Prisoners’ Education Trust – Course Prospectus 2024-2025
Download PET's Course Prospectus - our comprehensive guide to the distance learning courses we offer, with information on how to apply and how to prepare to study.
PET offers over 130 distance learning courses in every prison in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
We offer courses in a range of sectors – from health and social care to transport and logistics – as well as GCSEs, A-levels and Open University Access modules. Here you’ll find information about every course we offer.
Religious Studies A-Level Part 1
This course explores a variety of perspectives on religion and its impact on people’s behaviour, communities and cultures. Focusing on topics such as life after death and the existence of God, you’ll get the chance to reflect on your own values and attitude, as well as develop critical thinking and effective communication.
PET offers A-levels in two parts. Upon completing Part 1, you can choose either to take your AS exam (a qualification marking the first year of a full A-level) or continue on to Part 2 to build up to a full A-level.
The course consists of the following units:
- Introduction to Religious Studies
- The Existence of God (Design Argument, Cosmological Argument, Ontological Argument)
- Religious and Ethical Debates (Religious Experience, The Problem of Evil, Environmental Ethics, The Ethics of Equality)
- Theory and Application of Ethics (Utilitarianism, Natural Moral Law, Situation Ethics, War and Peace, Sexual Ethics)
- Christianity (The Nature of God, The Trinity, The Church, The Bible, The Role and Nature of Jesus, Shaping and Expressing Christian Identity)
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Six written assignments. These do not contribute toward the final grade.
Exams: Three – each are 1 hour, and contribute 33.3% of the overall grade. (Funding not included – you will need to re-apply to PET for the exam fees).
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments. Organize and facilitate exams.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Religious Studies A-Level Part 2
Find Out More: From NEC here
Religious Studies A-Level Part 2
This course explores a variety of perspectives on religion and its impact on people’s behaviour, communities and cultures. Focusing on topics such as life after death and the existence of God, you’ll get the chance to reflect on your own values and attitude, as well as develop critical thinking and effective communication.
The course contains five lessons that follow on from Part 1:
- Religious Language (Analogy and Symbol, Verification and Falsification, Language Game)
- Belief and Unbelief (Critiques of Religious Belief, Life after Death, Creation and Cosmology)
- Ethics (Kant’s Deontological Ethics, Aristotelian Virtue Ethics, Cognitivism and Non-Cognitivism, Religion and Morality, Medical Ethics – the beginning and end of life)
- Christianity and Society (The Challenge from Science, Secularisation, new movements in theology, pluralism and diversity, gender equality and discrimination)
- Atonement Theory and Scholars
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English, plus Religious Studies A-Level Part 1
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Five written assignments. These do not contribute towards the final grade.
Exams: Three – all are 2 hours long and count 33.3% towards the final grade. (Funding not included – you will need to re-apply to PET for the exam fees).
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
RHS Certificate in Principles of Garden Planning, Construction and Planting
Following on from the Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Horticulture, with this course you will gain an in-depth, scientific knowledge of garden surveying and design and construction, together with a comprehensive understanding of landscaping. This qualification can provide a route to work as a garden designer, landscaper or gardener.
The course consists of four lessons:
Lesson 1 – Understanding garden survey techniques and design principles
- Historical garden design styles
- Conducting a site appraisal
- The client brief
- Basic survey techniques
- Influence of site characteristics on garden design
- Principles and elements of design
Lesson 2 – Understanding the selection and use of landscaping elements in the garden
- The contribution of hard landscaping features to design and function
- Drainage systems in the garden
- The contribution of soft landscaping features to design and function
- The contribution of turf to the design and function of a garden
Lesson 3 – Understanding the setting out and construction of landscaping elements in the garden
- Setting out a site
- Soil movement and storage during construction work
- Construction of drainage systems
- Construction procedures for paths, patios and driveways
- Construction of steps and ramps
- Construction of walls, fences and pergolas
- Pond construction
- Rock garden construction
- Risk assessment
Lesson 4 – Understanding a range of specialist elements in the establishment of garden and urban plantings
- Amenity bedding schemes
- Components of specialist garden areas
- Pruning for effect
- Urban gardening options
- Water sustainability in the garden
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Four written assignments
Exams: Four exams (fees included).
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments. Facilitate and invigilate exams.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? RHS Level 3 Principles of Plant Growth, Health and Applied Propagation
Find Out More: From the HCC here
RHS Certificate in Principles of Plant Growth and Development
This course – accredited by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) – is ideal for those looking to volunteer or work in horticulture and gardening. Providing you with a detailed introduction to the subject, you will learn about plant classification, nutrition and root environments, maintaining plant health, and understanding propagation.
This course is part of the Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Horticulture qualification. In order to achieve the full qualification and progress to Level 3, you will also need to take the Certificate in Principles of Garden Planning, Establishment and Maintenance Level 2 course.
The course consists of four lessons:
- Plant Classification, Structure, and Function
- Plant Nutrition and Root Environment
- Maintaining Plant Health
- Understanding Plant Propagation
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Four written assignments
Exams: Four exams (fees included)
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments. Facilitate and invigilate exams.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? The second Level 2 Module is Principles of Garden Planning, Establishment, and Maintenance. Upon completion of this course as well, learners will have completed the Level 2 Principles of Horticulture Certificate. It is recommended, but not essential, that learners pass both Level 2 courses before progressing to the RHS Level 3 courses, which PET also fund.
Find Out More: From the Horticultural Correspondence College here
RYA Day Skipper
Suitable for sailors and motor boaters, this introductory course will give you the skills to navigate around familiar waters by day – expanding your knowledge of seamanship, navigation, and meteorology. You will find out more about nautical terms, rope and anchor work, safety, international regulations, navigation and compass-work, and chart-work.
The course comprises of fifteen subjects:
- Nautical Terms
- Ropework
- Anchor Work
- Safety
- International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
- Navigation
- Compass
- Chartwork
- Tides and Tidal Streams
- Visual Aids to Navigation
- Meteorology
- Passage Planning
- Navigation in Restricted Visibility
- Pilotage
- Marine Environment
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English and Maths
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: None – course contains a self-assessed workbook
Exams: Two exams
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments. Facilitate and invigilate exams.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Coastal Skipper
Find Out More: via the EASS here
Safe Handling of Medicines
This course is designed for those who wish to develop their understanding of the safe handling of medicines in order to find work or further learning opportunities in health and social care settings. You will develop a general understanding of different types of medication and their use and gain knowledge of the procedures for obtaining, storing, administering and disposing of medicines. You will also learn about the legislation and the audit process related to medication and issues of responsibility and accountability.
The course consists of four units:
- Understand Medication and Prescriptions
- Supply, Storage and Disposal of Medication
- Understand the Requirements for the Safe Administration of Medicine
- Record-Keeping and Audit Processes for Medication, Administration and Storage
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Four written assignments
Exams: None
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments
Tutor Support: Yes
Find Out More: From the OSC here
Sage Computerised Accounting for Business Level 1
Jointly developed by Sage UK in partnership with Skillsfirst, this accredited qualification could help you become a bookkeeper, or start your own business. Aimed at beginners, the course provides an introduction to Sage computerised accounting software. You will gain the knowledge of how the software works using double-entry bookkeeping, and explore the responsibilities of working within bookkeeping and the principles of banking procedures.
This course has four modules:
1.Using a computerised accounting application
2.Introduction to book-keeping
3.Working within book-keeping
4.Banking procedures
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English and Level 2 Maths
Format of Course Materials: CD-ROMS plus workbooks
Assignments: A series of self-assessed tests, and a case study
Exams: Two summative tests
Prison Support Requirements: Ensure and facilitate PC use. Support completion and submission of assignments. Facilitate and invigilate exam.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Sage Level 2 Computerised Accounting for Business
Find Out More: You can read more about Sage Qualifications here
Sage Computerised Accounting for Business Level 2
For those who already have a basic understanding of bookkeeping, this course shows you how to use Sage 50cloud Accounts software to manage daily processes as well as more advanced functions – such as producing invoices, credit control, reconciling accounts and management reports. You will also get an excellent grounding in double entry bookkeeping, giving you the knowledge to process, control and correct accounts to produce accurate information.
The course has 8 modules:
1.Banking procedures
2.Principles of recording and processing financial transactions
3.Principles of VAT
4.Professional values and basic business legislation
5.Setting up accounting software to manage accounting information
6.Process routine payments and receipts using a computerised system
7.Maintaining and recording the cash book
8. Maintaining the journal
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English and Level 2 Maths
Format of Course Materials: CD-ROMS plus workbooks
Assignments: A series of self-assessed tests, and a case study
Exams: Two summative tests
Prison Support Requirements: Ensure and facilitate PC use. Support completion and submission of assignments. Facilitate and invigilate exam.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Sage Level 3 Computerised Accounting for Business
Find Out More: You can read more about Sage Qualifications here
Sage Computerised Accounting for Business Level 3
This level 3 qualification will give you the advanced skills required to be the bookkeeper for a small firm or within an accounts department. You will build your understanding of cash flow management, preparing VAT returns, final accounts for sole traders and the principles of partnership accounting.
The course consists of ten modules:
1.Principles of double entry bookkeeping
2. Principles of accounting for not for profit organisations
3.Fundamentals of incomplete records
4.Principles of preparing financial statements for sole traders
5.Fundamentals of bookkeeping and accounting for partnerships
6.Principles of cash management
7.Principles of VAT
8.Cash management
9.Preparing and completing VAT returns
10.Computerised Accounting Software
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English and Maths, plus a previous Sage qualification or experience.
Format of Course Materials: CD-ROMs plus workbooks
Assignments: A series of self-assessed tasks, and a case study
Exams: Two summative tests
Prison Support Requirements: Ensure and facilitate PC use. Support completion and submission of assignments. Facilitate and invigilate exam.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Sage Level 4 CIMA Certificate
Find Out More: You can read more about Sage Qualifications here
Science, Technology and Maths Access Module (Y033)
The idea of university-level study can be quite daunting if you have not studied at this level before. For this reason, the OU offers introductory Access modules that have been specially designed to help you find out what it’s like to study with the OU, get a taste of a subject area, develop your study skills, and build your confidence. Starting an Access module with PET is the perfect opportunity to try out degree-level study without taking out a student loan. Research has also shown that learners who take Access modules are significantly more likely to succeed in their university studies than those who don’t.
This module introduces you to a range of technical subjects, including computing and IT, engineering and design, environment, mathematics, and science. As the foundation for further studies in these fields, this is the ideal module to build your confidence and prepare you for your next steps.
There are three main blocks:
- Life (Biology and ecological ideas)
- Water (Scientific experiments to understand how water shaped our planet)
- Home (Design, engineering, and computing)
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English and Maths.
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Four written assignments plus a few smaller assessed pieces of work
Exams: None
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments. Register and reserve learner on the course before the start date (February, May, and October each year)
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s next? Full Undergraduate Degree (funded via a student loan)
Find out more: from the OU directly here