Award-winning author visits East Devon schools with Budleigh Festival

Around 1,000 students from secondary and primary schools in East Devon will have the opportunity to meet award-winning author Onjali Raüf this month - with a little help from the Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival.

The campaigning author of the hugely popular The Boy At The Back of the Class will be discussing that title along with her other books with students at The King's School Ottery St Mary and Exmouth Community College.

She will also be doing a special event at Exmouth Community College for keen older year six readers from nine different local primary schools who snapped up the invitation to work with her. The primary schools taking part are: Bassetts Farm, Beacon, Brixington, Withycombe, Littleham and St Joseph’s in Exmouth, Otterton Primary, St Peter’s in Budleigh Salterton and Drakes in East Budleigh.

The visit has been organised by Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival, which as well as organising its popular events, is a charitable organisation that uses its profits for community outreach work, with a focus on its education programme taking authors and illustrators into schools across East Devon.

David Marston, of Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival's education committee, said: “We have been trying to bring Onjali to our local schools for some time and are delighted that she will be working with us over two days.

“She's one of the brightest stars of writing for young people and this is just the latest in a growing series of writers we have been able to bring to Devon pupils and students as part of our charitable aims.”

Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival brings an inspiring range of authors and speakers to the town every year. Its Spring Weekend takes place on March 7 and 8 and its main Festival is from September 17 to 21, next year.

Visit www.budlitfest.org.uk for more information.