Our courses

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: In order to be certificated for this course, students must already possess an accredited Level 2 fitness instruction 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 15 units:

1. Getting Started
2. Foundational Hand I – Starting Minuscules
3. Foundational Hand II – Continuing Minuscules
4. Foundational Hand III – Numerals and Skeletal Capitals
5. Foundational Hand IV – Majuscules
6. Layout
7. Gothic Hand I – Minuscules
8. Gothic Hand II – Majuscules
9. Gothic Hand III – Variations & Layout
10. Uncial Hand I – Uncial Alphabet
11. Uncial Hand II – Project in Uncial
12. Borders & Decoration
13. Illumination
14. Invitations and Posters
15. Greeting Cards

Entry Requirements: Level 2 English

Assignments: 15 written assignments, 1 at the end of each unit

Exams: None

Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments

Tutor Support: Yes

What’s Next? Drawing 1: Drawing Skills via the OCA

Find Out More: From Stonebridge here

The course contains six units:

1. Record keeping, Customer Service, Hygiene, Health and Safety, First Aid and Law
2. Anatomy of the Dog and Cat
3. Nutrition, Diet, Feeding, Stock Control
4. Health, Diseases, Vaccinations, Veterinary Attention
5. Kennel Routines, Grooming, Special Needs
6. Animal Welfare Issues, Human Support, Job Applications

Entry Requirements: Level 2 English

Assignments: There are two key assignments – a Special Study and an Evolution Study. Usually these require practical work within a kennel or cattery, but the Animal Care College have tailored this for prison learners, who can use either previous experience or fictional scenarios.

Exams: None

Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of the two key studies, and facilitating practical experience if possible.

Tutor Support: Yes

What’s Next? Animal Care Level 3 from Stonebridge

Find Out More: via the Animal Care College’s website

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

The course consists of the following eight units:

1. The meaning and practice of coaching
2. Coaching relationships
3. Coaching and the learning process
4. The GROW technique; coaching and CBT
5. Attitude and image management
6. The role of change and core values
7. Applying coaching skills in different settings
8. Systems coaching and professional practice

Entry Requirements: Level 2 English or equivalent, but no prior knowledge is required.

Assignments: Four written assignments, plus a 4,000 word final assignment based on a coaching session.

Exams: None

Prison Support Requirements: Support learner to complete the course and submit assignments

Tutor Support: Yes

What’s Next? The Certificate in Mentoring (CR400). If a learner completes both courses, they combine to be awarded the Diploma in Coaching and Mentoring (UE1000). Learners may also wish to progress on to an OU Access Module, such as Y032 People, Work and Society.

Find Out More: From the Institute of Counselling here