Former teacher Tim Rylands is on a mission to help children and young people to unlock their imaginations so they can "take off on a sea of words". It all began at Chew Magna secondary school in Bristol where Rylands pioneered the use of video games as powerful stimuli to encourage pupils' speaking and writing. His work is now known internationally and, most days, involves a bewildering succession of conference key note lectures, teacher insets and school workshops

The growing range of serious games offering both fun and education aim to keep students both amused and in touch with learning