The results of the recent Education in Chemistry  readership survey, analysed by an independent marketing company, NSM, find that the magazine is well received by its readers. Receipt and access do not appear to be a problem, and the content and balance of materials provided for the secondary and tertiary sectors is, on the whole, correct. InfoChem also received positive feedback. Respondents indicated that the pupil supplement is pitched at the right level for the intended audience, ie 15-18-year olds, and if anything they would like to see it expanded.  

A few results are worth highlighting:

• The bulk of the respondents were heads of chemistry in maintained 11-19 comprehensive schools.  
• The vast majority of the sample have access to every copy of the magazine. Each copy is read by 2.5 people on average. 
• The most read parts of the magazine are the feature articles, followed by InfoChem, Column, Exhibition Chemistry, Reviews and Distillates. Articles on state-of-the-art chemistry are the most popular followed by ones containing experimental chemistry. Encouragingly, three quarters of the sample did not specify additional topics they would like to see. That said the specific suggestions made - eg more articles aimed at teachers of the 11-14 cohort, and on GCSE subjects - will be taken on board by the editorial team. 
• Respondents may be using InfoChem more as a teaching aid, rather than distributing the supplement to their students. 

According to the report produced by NSM, Education in Chemistry can be 90 per cent confident that the answers given by this sample are representative of the overall readership.  

My sincere thanks to the 350 or so of you that took the trouble to fill in the readership survey questionnaire. Your individual comments and suggestions were much appreciated and will be considered as we develop the magazine. I would urge those heads of departments who do not circulate the magazine to all members of their chemistry teaching staff, to do so. The Royal Society of Chemistry sends the magazine courtesy to all UK secondary schools, colleges and university chemistry departments on the understanding that this is done. To chemistry teachers I would ask that InfoChem is photocopied and circulated to those 15-19 year olds with an interest in the chemical sciences.  

If you have any ideas for the magazine, or indeed would like to contribute to the magazine - ie contribute an article or review books and software, please do not hesitate to contact me on 020 7440 3379 (direct) or by email.

The winner of the £100 M&S voucher is Mr J. M. Alexander of St James' School, West Malvern; the five runners up were P. Scott (Boroughmuir School); Ken Walker (The Judd's School); Claire Crichton (St Joseph's RC School, Pot Hall); M. Gowan (The Belvedere School); and L. Stanbury (St Alban's School).

Kathryn Roberts