Commissioned by the Wellcome Trust, the study says that opportunities for activities like visits to museums and science festivals are being missed.
It also finds that disadvantaged groups still do not have equal access to informal science learning opportunities.
The study states: “While schools help students develop formalised understanding of general principles, experiences outside the classroom are essential to give meaning, relevance and context to the ideas that schools offer.
“They often provide a moment of emotional contact, where it is possible to have a hands-on experience, be challenged or provoked, or simply to enjoy the moment. For example, in school students will learn about the theory of evolution but a visit to the Natural History Museum will enable them to see how the natural world and the human race have evolved, bringing the theory and principles to life.”
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