Our courses

The course has 18 modules that cover the following 10 areas:

1. Project Management and the Operating Environment
2. Project Life Cycle
3. Management Structures by which Projects Operate
4. Project Management Planning
5. Scope Management
6. Scheduling and Resource Management
7. Risk Management and Issue Management
8.Project Quality Management
9. Communication
10. Leadership and Teamwork

Entry Requirements: English Level 2

Assignments: None, but course materials include practice questions and the APM Body of Knowledge Reference Book

Exams: One 60 question, multiple choice exam

Prison Support Requirements: Organize and invigilate exam

Tutor Support: Yes

Find Out More: You can read more about the course provider, Cupe International, here

The course has 4 modules:

1. Manipulation and Equipment
2. Natural History
3. Swarming, Swarm Control and Effect
4. Disease and Pests

Entry Requirements: Level 2 English

Assignments: The course involves a series of seven question papers, which are not assessments but a structure learning program. These are sent straight at the beginning of the course and learners should start working on them within the first six months.

Exams: This course does not include an exam, but it does prepare learners to take the Basic Assessment if they wish to take this upon completion of the course.

Prison Support Requirements: Facilitate correspondence and provide access to the BBKA recommended reading list.

Tutor Support: Yes

What’s Next: An Open University degree in Natural Sciences, starting with the Science, Technology and Maths YO33 Access Module.

Find Out More: From the British Beekeepers Assoication here

The course consists of the following five units

1. Financial services and payment methods
2. Prepare and check business documents
3. Record transactions in a sub-divided bookkeeping system
4. Prepare a trial balance and reconciliations
5. Principles of bookkeeping and VAT

Entry Requirements: Level 2 English and Level 2 Maths

Assignments: There are 9 practice and IAB assessments in total:

1. Two practice and two IAB knowledge tests (a series of independent short answer questions made up of multiple choice, gap fill, and true or false type questions)
   a. Principles of bookkeeping and VAT
   b. Financial services and payment methods
2. Two practice and two IAB written assignments (short case study type questions with several tasks for each case study)
   a. Prepare and check business documents
   b. Prepare a trial balance and reconciliations
3. One practice exam (self-assessed)
4. One invigilated IAB exam

Learners have one attempt for each practice assessment and three attempts to pass each IAB assessment. After learners submit and get feedback for the practice assignments, they can complete the IAB assignments, followed by a practice exam. It is necessary to register for the IAB exam.

Exams: Yes

Prison Support Requirements: Support with posting assessments; support with organising and invigilating exam; Examinations require a minimum of 5 weeks’ notice. Exam cost included in the price of the course.

Tutor Support: Yes

What’s Next? Sage QFC Computerised Accounting for Business (level1 and 2).

Find Out More: From NEC directly here

Goldstar A-Levels are provided as Parts 1 and 2. After studying Part 1, learners choose to either take the AS exam (gaining an AS-Level qualification) or they can study Part 2 and take all exams after that, gaining a full A-Level.

Part 1 contains lessons 1-6, and Part 2 contains 7-10:

7. The Business Environment
8. Choosing Strategic Direction
9. Strategic Change
10. Managing Strategic Change

Entry Requirements: Level 2 English and Maths

Assignments: 4 – one for each lesson. These do not contribute towards the final grade.

Exams: Three – each are two hours, and contribute 33.3% of the final grade.

Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments. Organize and invigilate exams.

Tutor Support: Yes

What’s Next? Open University Access Module Y032 – People, Work and Society

Find Out More: From NEC here

Goldstar A-Levels are provided as Parts 1 and 2. After studying Part 1, learners choose to either take the AS exam (gaining an AS-Level qualification) or they can study Part 2 and take all exams after that, gaining a full A-Level.

This course contains six sections:

1. What is business?

2. Management

3. Marketing performance

4. Operational performance

5. Setting financial objectives

6. Human resource performance

Entry Requirements: Level 2 English and Maths

Assignments: 7 written assignments (corresponding to the above units, plus one introductory assignment). These do not contribute toward the final grade.

Exams: Two – each are 1 hour 30 minutes, and contribute 50% of the overall grade

Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments. Organize and facilitate exams.

Tutor Support: Yes

What’s Next?  Goldstar Part 2, or OU Access: People, Work and Society (Y032)

Find Out More: From NEC directly here

The course consists of 10 modules:

1. Tax and National Insurance
2. Legal Obligations of Running a Business
3. Brand Management
4. Effective Marketing Skills and Strategies
5. Generating Leads and Sales
6. Performance Monitoring
7. Business Planning
8. Financial Management
9. Cash Flow Forecasting
10. Basic Accounting

Entry Requirements: Students must already possess an accredited level 2 fitness or sport qualification.

Assignments: There are 2 assignments:

1. Business Skills Case Stusy
2. Business Skills Workbook

Exams: None

Prison Support Requirements: Submitting assignments

Tutor Support: Yes

What’s Next? HFE offer a range of similar Level 3 theory courses, including Nutrition for Physical Activity. For more business skills, you can consider NEC’s Business Start-Up, or Book-keeping Certificate. 

Find Out More: From HFE here 

The two parts of this are broken into several sub-topics:

Part 1-  Planning to start your own business

• Topic 1: Is self-employment right for you?
• Topic 2: Developing the business idea
• Topic 3: Market research
• Topic 4: Money matters
• Topic 5: Sources of advice and support

Part 2 – Succeeding with your own business

• Topic 1: Formalising your business
• Topic 2: Finance
• Topic 3: Marketing and selling
• Topic 4: Customer service and quality

Entry Requirements: Level 2 English and Maths

Assignments: There are 9 “progress checks”, 1 at the end of each topic

Exams: None

Prison Support Requirements: Support learners through the course and with submission of assignments. The course also contains a complementary CD, so whilst it is not necessary for the completion of the course, facilitating access to IT on a stand-alone PC would be beneficial)

Tutor Support: Yes – for six months from date of enrollment.

What’s Next? 

A skills based course, depending on the nature of your business (e.g Horticulture, Animal Care)

A practical course in management, management or finance

IGCSE or AS Level Business Studies

Find Out More: From NEC’s website here

The course consists of 8 sections:

1. Business activity
2. Influences on business
3. People in business
4. Business finance
5. Marketing
6. Business operations
7. Small business revision
8. Large business revision

Entry Requirements: Level 2 English

Assignments: 9 written assignments (corresponding to the above units, plus one introductory assignment). These do not contribute toward the final grade.

Exams: Two exams (1 hour 30 minutes each)

Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments. Organize and invigilate exams.

Tutor Support: Yes

What’s Next? Business A-level, also with NEC

Find Out More: From NEC here

The course consists of 12 chapters:

1. Framework of financial reporting for Islamic financial institutions
2. Financial reporting of Islamic financial institutions
3. Financial statements I: balance sheet and statement of restricted investment
4. Financial statements II: income statement and accounting policies on income determination
5. Investment accounts and profit distribution policy
6. Accounting and reporting: Mudarabah and Musharakah financing
7. Accounting and reporting: Murabahah financing
8. Accounting and reporting: Ijarah and Ijarah Muntahia Bi Tamleek
9. Accounting and reporting: Salam and Istisna’ financing
10. Corporate governance
11. Auditing of Islamic financial institutions
12. Shari’ah governance

Entry Requirements: Level 2 English and Maths (or equivalent)

Assignments: None, but the course contains a study guide, exemplars, and practice questions.

Exams: One exam – 40 multiple choice questions (one hour long).

Prison Support Requirements: Organize and invigilate exam

Tutor Support: Yes

What’s Next? Any of the other three Islamic Finance courses

Find Out More: You can read about the course provider here

There are six available units, that combine to create eleven credits:

1. How to use the English language
2. Using the English language
3. How to tell a news story
4. Recording information
5. Feature writing
6. Sports reporting

Additional modules are not possible in closed conditions (e.g. digital media, audio/video) but PET have worked with NCTJ to allow learners to gain accreditation for the rest of the course on ROTL or after release.

Entry Requirements: Level 2 English

Assignments: Coursework, Portfolio of Evidence, Practical Assignment (such as article in prison newspaper or magazine)

Exams: None

Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments. Ensuring students have access to media sources, such as newspapers and magazines is especially helpful too.

Tutor Support: Yes

What’s Next? Further modules on digital media, broadcasting, data gathering and audio/visual journalism are available after release at extra cost (offering a further 14 credits to convert the Certificate into a Diploma). Learners can also consider A-level English Language or OU Access course or OU Level 1 60 credit course such as DD102 Introducing the Social Sciences.

Find Out More: From the NCTJ here