Prisoners’ Education Trust – Course Prospectus 2021-2022
Download PET’s Course Prospectus - exploring all the subject areas we offer and helping people in prison choose from over 120 distance learning courses.
PET offers over 120 different 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.
Download and print our one-page Courses Index, featuring all the courses in the Prisoners’ Education Trust Course Prospectus 2021-2022, here.
Business Start-up (parts 1 and 2)
This course is designed to guide you through the process of setting up your own business. You’ll get practical advice and develop skills vital for planning, establishing and growing a business. The course explores if self-employment is right for you and provides the tools you need to develop a full business plan. It also covers topics vital to early success, including legal and financial issues, marketing and sales, and customer service and quality.
The course has nine topics spread across two parts:
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
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: There are nine written “progress checks”
Exams: None
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments
Tutor Support: Yes
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, or an IGCSE or AS Level Business Studies
Find Out More: From NEC’s website here
Business Studies IGCSE
This course provides a thorough understanding of the principles, terminology, concepts and methods of business. You’ll cover topics such as business operations, marketing, and business finance and will develop your critical thinking and analytical skills.
The course consists of eight 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
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Nine written assignments (these do not contribute toward the final grade).
Exams: Two exams. Each are 1 hour 30 minutes and contribute 50% 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? Business A-level Part 1
Find Out More: From NEC here
CIMA Accredited Sage Certificate
Jointly developed by Sage and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), this course offers a grounding in computerised accounting. It provides you with an introduction to the Sage 50 software and gives you the practical skills required by businesses to perform accounting functions. You will find out more about concepts like transactions, reconciliation, management and reporting, VAT returns, remittance, and project costing.
The course consists of seven units:
- Introduction: How to make full use of the software, back-up, restore and data security
- Transactions from customers and suppliers, including invoice creation
- Cash, bank and budget control and reconciliation
- Management and comparative reporting
- VAT returns, EC sales and Intrastat
- Tailoring reports and layouts including email statements and remittances
- Project (job) costing for detailed individual job / project control
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English and Maths, plus a Sage Level 3 qualification
Format of course materials: CD-ROMs and workbooks
Assignments: A series of self-assessed tests and a case study
Exams: Two exams
Prison Support Requirements: Ensure and facilitate PC Access. Facilitate and Invigilate exams.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s next? CIMA Acccredited Sage Level 5 Higher Certificate
Find out more: On Sage’s website here
CIMA Accredited Sage Higher Certificate
The next step on from the CIMA Level 4 Certificate, this course provides the full range of skills needed to become an advanced user of Sage 50 Accounts Professional. The course will build your knowledge of sole trader accounts and takes you through the year end process, as well as exploring controlling cash, limited liability partnerships, importing data and limited companies.
The course consists of three units:
- Introduction
- Sole Trader Accounts, and Year End Process
- Controlling Cash, Limited Liability Partnerships, Importing Data, and Limited Companies
These units cover the following subjects:
- Final accounts for sole traders, partnerships, limited companies, limited liability partnerships and not for profit organisations.
- The importing and exporting data to enable detailed management control
- Advanced credit control and cash flow forecasts
- The use of foreign trader accounts, and detailed departmental budgeting and forecasting.
- Fixed asset register, depreciation, accuals and pre-payments
- Month end and year end processing
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English and Maths, plus CIMA Level 4
Format of course materials: CD-ROMs and workbooks
Assignments: A series of self-assessed tests and a case study
Exams: One exam (1 hour 30 minutes)
Prison Support Requirements: Ensure and facilitate PC Access. Facilitate and Invigilate exams.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s next? OU Access Module YO33: Starting with Science, Technology and Maths
Find out more: On Sage’s website here
Classical Civilisation A-Level Part 1
The ancient Greeks and Romans created a legacy that has shaped the literature, language, arts, politics and philosophy of the western world. This course allows you to develop a critical approach to the literature and culture of this fascinating period in history. You will study poetry and plays and analyse the issues and values that shaped classical civilisation.
You will not have the option to take the AS exam at the end of Part 1 of this course. After completing Part 1, you should apply for Part 2. Having completed both parts, you can then take the full A-Level exams which will cover everything learned in Part 1 and 2.
This course has six lessons:
- Homer’s world of the hero – The Odyssey (1)
- Homer’s world of the hero – The Odyssey (2)
- Virgil’s world of the hero – The Aeneid (1)
- Virgil’s world of the hero – The Aeneid (2)
- Greek Theatre – Oedipus the King
- The Theatre of Dionysus – Bacchae
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Seven written assignments. These do not count towards the final grade.
Exams: None – go straight to Part 2
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Classical Civilisation A-Level Part 2
Find Out More: From NEC here
Classical Civilisation A-Level Part 2
The ancient Greeks and Romans created a legacy that has shaped the literature, language, arts, politics and philosophy of the western world. This course allows you to develop a critical approach to the literature and culture of this fascinating period in history. You will study poetry and plays and analyse the issues and values that shaped classical civilisation.
The course contains four lessons that carry on from Part 1:
- Old Comedy – The Frogs
- The Greeks and their Gods
- Sanctuaries, Ritual and Philosophy
- Sanctuary Sites: Acropolis, Delphi and Olympia
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English, plus Classical Civilisation Part 1
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Four written assignments. These do not count towards the final grade.
Exams: Three exams (Funding not included – you will need to re-apply to PET for the exam fees)
- 2 hours, 20 minutes (40% of marks)
- 1 hour, 45 minutes (30% of marks)
- 1 hour, 45 minutes (30% of marks)
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments. Facilitate and invigilate exams.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Open University Access Modules YO31: Arts and Languages, or YO32: People, Work and Society
Find Out More: From NEC here
CMI Level 3 Certificate in the Principles of Management and Leadership
This course will provide you with the broad knowledge and skills needed to improve your managerial ability. It focuses on the way organisations operate, as well as the application of management and leadership approaches. You will also study how to manage teams effectively, create cohesive workplaces, and overcome barriers to achievement.
The course consists of two core units:
- Unit 301: Principles of Management and Leadership
This unit includes: Ways Organisations Operate, Application of Management, Leadership Approaches
- Unit 302: Managing a Team to Achieve Results
This unit includes: Understanding the Nature of Teams in the Workplace, How to achieve results
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Two practice assignments and two CMI formal assignments
Exams: None
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments
Tutor Support: Yes
Find Out More: From NEC’s website here
CMI Level 5 Certificate in Management and Leadership
This qualification, specifically adapted by NEC, is aimed at both practicing and aspiring managers and leaders who are accountable to senior managers or business owners. The course will teach learners how to be more effective at managing individuals and teams and to deliver aims and objectives in line with an organization’s strategy. Learners will focus on the principles of managing, and approaches for supporting, motivating and inspiring both teams and individuals to exceed expectations.
The course consists of two core units:
- Unit 501: Principles of Management in an Organizational Context
This unit includes: Evaluating the impact of an organization’s structure and governance, Exploring theoretical models, management and leadership styles, and Approaches designed to promote a culture of mutual trust and respect
- Unit 502: Developing, Managing and Leading Individuals and Teams to Achieve Success
This unit includes: Theoretical and practical approaches to developing, leading and managing teams, Techniques to assess current and future team capabilities, and the role of recruitment, selection and staff development
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English, plus a Level 3 Management qualification
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Two practice assignments and two CMI formal assignments
Exams: None
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments
Tutor Support: Yes
Find Out More: From NEC here
Coastal Skipper Yachtmaster
Following on from the Day Skipper course, on this advanced course you will develop additional knowledge and skills in relation to tides, positioning and navigation, collision regulations and meteorology. You will also learn about the use of a wide range of tools – including GPS, chart plotters and logs – as well as safety at seas and the marine environment.
The course has seventeen subjects:
- Position
- The magnetic compass
- Tides
- Tidal Streams
- Buoyage
- Lights
- Pilotage
- GPS and chart plotters
- Echo sounders
- Logs (speed and distance measuring)
- Deck log
- Meteorology
- Rules of the Road
- Safety at Sea
- Navigation in restricted visibility
- Passage planning
- Marine Environment
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English and Maths, plus Day-Skipper qualification
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: None – course contains a self-assessed workbook
Exams: Three exams
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of coursework. Facilitate and invigilate exams.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Yachtmaster Ocean
Find Out More: Directly from the EASS here
Combined Science IGCSE
On this course, you’ll explore the basic principles and applications of biology, chemistry and physics. You’ll learn key scientific concepts, as well as their application in the real world, including the impact on technology and the environment.
The course consists of the following lessons:
- Physics (Motion, Matter, Energy)
- Chemistry (Atoms, Molecules, Bonds)
- Biology (Cells, Nutrients and Nutrition)
- Physics 2 ( Waves, Light, Electromagnetic Spectrum)
- Chemistry 2 (Electricity, Acids, Reactivity, Ions and Gases)
- Biology 2 (Transport, circulation, respiration, co-ordination)
- Physics 3 (Sound, electricity, circuits)
- Chemistry 3 (Metals, reactions, fuels)
- Biology 3 (Reproduction, ecosystems)
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Ten written assignments (these do not count towards the final grade).
Exams: Three exams (Funding not included – you will need to re-apply to PET for the exam fees).
Paper 1 – 45 minutes (30% of marks)
Paper 2 or 3 – 1 hour 15 mins (50% of marks)
Paper 6 – 1 hour (20% of marks)
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments. Organize and facilitate exams.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Open University Access Module YO33: Science, Technology and Maths
Find Out More: via NEC’s website here