AN award winning author was on hand to help students learn about writing from other cultures.

Sita Brahmachari visited Year 9 pupils at Saxmundham Free School recently.

It linked to their studies of literature from other cultures, including work on the slave trade, a collection of poems from other countries and a piece on the Vietnam War.

Sarah Mitchell, subject leader for English, drama and literacy, said the author’s visit brought the students’ learning to life and gave them a much wider perspective.

Mrs Brahmachari’s first novel, Artichoke Hearts, won the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize in 2011 and the Redbridge Book Award in 2012.