Full curriculum
Discover the 250 different courses we offer to people in prison, from beekeeping to book keeping, plumbing to Portuguese, up to degree level.
PET funds 250 different courses, in levels and subjects not usually available in prison.
Courses range from beekeeping to bookkeeping and include GCSEs, A Levels, degree-level study and vocational qualifications.
Discover 2020’s most popular coursesHere you’ll find some of our most popular courses, and a list of what else is on offer.
Certificate in Islamic Banking And Takaful – Products And Services
By studying this course, learners will understand the developments which have taken place with
regard to Islamic financial institutions and systems, and the main source of funds available to banks. The course also focuses on how these sources are rewarded the various products developed by Islamic banks for their customers, the products and services offered under takaful, and issues relating to underwriting,
The course contains 10 chapters:
- Overview of the development of Islamic financial systems and institutions
- Islamic financial system: Islamic capital market, takaful and settlement system
- Financial regulation and market standards
- Deposits and investment accounts
- Islamic banking products and services
- Trade finance and treasury products
- Takaful – an overview
- Takaful products and services
- Takaful underwriting, deficit, surpluses and retakaful
- The financial and operational risks of Islamic financial institutions
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
Certificate in Islamic Capital Markets and Instruments
This course focuses on the differences between conventional and Islamic capital markets, the primary and secondary capital markets, and regulation within the Islamic capital market. Students will also learn about the screening processes used in accepting and rejecting shari’ah compliant products.
The course consists of 14 chapters:
1. Overview of global Islamic capital market developments
2. Islamic capital markets and instruments
3. Growth and development of Islamic capital markets
4. Essential Shari’ah principles governing the Islamic capital market (1)
5. Essential Shari’ah principles governing the Islamic capital market (2)
6. Islamic bonds
7. Islamic Sukuks
8. Islamic asset-backed securities
9. Islamic equity screening criteria
10. Islamic mutual funds/unit trusts: an overview
11. Islamic mutual funds /unit trusts: contracts and products
12. Islamic real estate investment trusts
13. Islamic structured products and derivatives
14. Principles and contracts underlying Islamic structured products
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
Certificate in Islamic Commercial Law
By studying this course, learners will have gained an introduction to Islamic commercial law as it relates to Islamic finance. Learners will study the sources of the Islamic commercial law, including the Qu'ran and the traditions of the Prophet Mohammad, as well as the methodologies used to solve modern problems in Islamic Finance. Additional chapters focus on Shari'ah compliance and the importance of Shari'ah standards.
The course contains 11 chapters:
1. An introduction to Islamic finance
2. Shari’ah compliance
3. Source of Islamic Commercial Law
4. Methodology of interpretation of Islamic commercial law
5. Formation of contracts
6. Classification of contracts
7. Comparison of classifications of contracts
8. Traditional Islamic contracts and Islamic finance
9. Overview of Islamic banking, Takaful and capital market products
10. Application of Islamic contracts in Islamic finance
11. Implementation of Shari’ah standards, policies and rulings in Islamic finance
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
Certificate in Peer Mentoring
This course, developed by PET and co-written by serving prisoner peer-mentors, will be useful for mentors in all roles, including healthcare, workshops and education. Throughout, there is a focus on developing transferable mentoring skills that will be valuable after release, particularly for those looking to work or volunteer in social care setting, work with young people etc. The course deals with the issues, ideas, concept and theory of mentoring.
The course consists of 9 units:
- Mentoring – so what is it?
- Let’s Talk Communication
- More Personal Baggage Than a Coach Tour
- Listening – Er, What?
- Mentoring – So What’s It Good For?
- ‘Nuff Said! – Boundaries and Confidentiality
- Mentoring – Stages and Barriers, and Stages of a Mentoring Relationship
- Mirror, Mirror – Time for Reflection
- Information
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Assignments: 8 assessment areas, consisting of 15 tasks
Exams: None
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments
Tutor Support: None
What’s Next? Understanding Mental Health Care Level 3, or Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care Level 3
Find Out More: The course was featured in a recent issue of Inside Time – read here.
Certificate in Understanding Substance Misuse
This course helps to develop increased understanding of issues and possible responses and interventions around substance misuse.
This course provides the student with knowledge and understanding that can be used by those who either personally, voluntary or professionally have a special interest in this field.
It is comprised of three units:
- Understanding Drug Use: Facts, Effects, Symptoms and Attitudes
- Understanding Responses to Substance Misuse: Legislation, Harm Reduction and Interventions
- Understanding Alcohol and Drug Use in Young People
Entry requirements: Level 2 English
Assignments: Series of tutor-marked assignments
External tutor support: Yes
Prison support requirements: Support learners to send off assignments
What’s next? Understanding Mental Healthcare QCF (Level 3)
CIMA Accredited Sage Certificate (Level 4)
Sage have partnered with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), to create a course which offers a theoretical grounding in computerized accounting. The course provides practical skills required by businesses to perform accounting functions. You will be able to benefit from Sage 50 skills, as well as employer valued CIMA certification.
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: Sage level 1-3 Computerized Accounting for Business
Format of course material: CD-ROM and paper-based. To complete the course, however, learners will require IT access.
Assignments: Self-assessed practical tests
Exams: One case study assessment at the end of Unit 3 (2 hours), and a test at the end of Unit 6 on the case study (45 minutes). Summative test (1.5 hours).
Prison Support Requirements: Ensure learner has adequate IT time and access; organise 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 (Level 5)
Sage have partnered with CIMA to create a course to provide learners with the full range of skills to boost the benefits of Sage 50 Accounts.
The course consists of three units:
- Introduction
- Sole Trader Accounts, and Year End Process
- Controlling Cash, Limited Liability Partnerships, Importing Data, and Limited Companies
Entry Requirements: CIMA Level 4 Certificate and / or experience with Sage 50 software
Format of course material: CD-ROM and paper-based. To complete the course, however, learners will require IT access.
Assignments: Self-assessed practical tests
Exams: Two tests; a case study and a summative test after the completion of the above units (1.5 hours)
Prison Support Requirements: Ensure learner has adequate IT time and access; organize and invigilate exams
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s next? OU Modules: Starting with Science, Technology and Maths (y033 Access), or Fundamentals of Accounting (B124 Level 1).
Find out more: On Sage’s website here
CMI Level 3 Certificate in First Line Management
This course has been specifically adapted and tailored by NEC for learners in prison. It is aimed at both aspiring and current managers, and will provide learners with the broad knowledge and skills to improve their managerial ability. It focuses on the way organizations operate, as well as the application of management and different leadership approaches. Learners will also study how to manage teams effectively, creating cohesive workplaces, and how to 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
Assignments: One practice assignment and one CMI formal assignment per unit
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
Assignments: One practice assignment and one CMI formal assignment per unit
Exams: None
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments
Tutor Support: Yes
Find Out More: From NEC here
Coastal Skipper Yachtmaster
This is an advanced navigation course that progresses from the Day Skipper course. Students will develop further knowledge and skills on navigation, pilotage, collision regulations and meteorology.
The course has 17 lessons:
- 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: Learners must complete the RYA Day Skipper course before applying
Assignments: Self-assessments within the workbook
Exams: Three final exams – learners will need to provide short and long answers using the charts provided. Each exam is 2 hours long, and covers the whole syllabus.
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of coursework. No additional equipment is required, but access to a Portland plotter and divider are recommended
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Yachtmaster Ocean, also from the EASS.
Find Out More: Directly from the EASS here