TWO teens have spoken about how a local education provider turned their lives around.

Jordan Jerram, 19, who went to The Gateway Academy, in Chadwell St Mary, and Patrick Carroll, 18, from Ormiston Park Academy, in South Ockendon, were both in and out of trouble with the law when they were first sent to a pupil referral unit in South Ockendon.

There, they met John Joseph, 56, the founder and director of Learn2Build, an alternative education provider, who took on the lads to teach them trades in bricklaying and carpentry.

Five years later, both now work with much younger boys and Patrick is well on his way to earning his own teaching qualification.

John said he was amazed when he saw Patrick in a suit.

He said: “When I first saw Patrick in a suit and he told me he was an educational support assistant, I couldn’t believe my eyes.”

Patrick said: “When I first came to John, I was in trouble with the police – I was wild, getting arrested, out of control.

“Now I look back at the way we were when we were younger and I use it when I work with the special education needs and autistic kids.

“And I absolutely love it. If I hadn’t got to Gateway, I wouldn’t be anywhere, I’d be in prison. It saved my life.”

Jordan Jerram went on from Gateway Connect to take himself to college and get qualified. After college he found himself holding down two jobs at once so he could work at Learn2Build with the younger kids. 

He would work at the cranes on Tilbury Docks for 12 hour shifts at night - then after three hours sleep - go back to Learn2build to work as a teaching assistant with the kids.

Explaining his altruism, Jordan said: “Everyone deserves a second chance, just like John gave me. I love teaching, I really enjoy it – working with these kids, I get a really good kick out of it. ”

With a few GCSEs under their belt, something none of their teachers thought was remotely possible, the teenagers – and John – want to pass on the secret to their success.

John, who’s been teaching for 20 years in schools and prisons, said: “The pride you feel, that I feel now, looking at them both in their suits and working so well with boys that were once just like them, well it’s worth more than anything money can buy.

“I wouldn’t change anything about it for the world.”

*In this week's Gazette the quotes attributed to Jordan Jerram and Patrick Carroll were mixed up. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.