Student experiences of inclusive education in secondary schools: A systematic review of the literature

This study provides a systematic review of the literature investigating factors that support or inhibit inclusive education in secondary schools according to the experiences of students with diverse learning needs. Five electronic databases were searched from 2011 to 2021 yielding 27 studies for further exploration. Five factors were reported by students as supporting inclusive education: supportive relationships; positive teacher beliefs; positive school leader beliefs; supportive teaching practices; and accessibility. Two factors were identified as barriers to inclusion: unsupportive school cultures and inappropriate learning support. Opportunities to strengthen pre-service teacher education programs and a need for ongoing professional development are discussed.