Prisoners’ Education Trust – Course Prospectus 2026-2027
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 120 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.
ABC Scrum Master
Scrum is another popular framework to manage product development. This is a useful qualification if you are looking for a job in management or IT, but you will learn all aspects of this flexible strategy that challenges assumptions of the traditional approach to product development, and enables teams to better communicate and support each other.
The course covers the following subjects:
- The Manifesto and the Principles
- Empirical Product Development
- Scrum Events
- Scrum Roles
- Scrum Teams
- Scrum Artefacts
- Scrum exercises
- Scrum Tailoring Agile Business Consortium Scrum Master
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: None
Exams: One exam
Prison Support Requirements: Organize and invigilate exam
Tutor Support: Yes
Find Out More: From CUPE here
Agile Project Management
Agile PM is a project management method which takes a different approach to the more traditional PRINCE2, and has become more popular in some sectors in recent years due to its flexibility. This course will allow you to learn this practical approach that achieves an ideal balance between the standards, rigour and visibility required for good project management, and the fast-pace, change and empowerment provided by Agile.
The course covers the following subject areas:
- The Fundamentals and the Philosophy
- The Principles
- Preparation
- The Lifecycle and Products
- Team structures
- Roles and Responsibilities
- Communication
- MoSCoW and Timeboxing
- Lifecycle Configuration
- Estimation and Measurement
- Quality and Maintainability
- Planning, Control and Risk
- Tailoring Agile Project Management
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: None
Exams: One exam
Prison Support Requirements: Organize and invigilate exam
Tutor Support: Yes
Find Out More: via CUPE here
Boosting your Business Potential
This course explores the many influences on a business, how to maximise your marketing, how to improve team performance and how quality and standards can make or break a business. The perfect next step after our Business Start-up course or for those who want to learn how to enhance a business that’s up and running, this course will provide a solid grounding in business theory for you to apply to your business or idea.
The course covers the following subjects:
- Section 1: Understanding the influences on your business
- Section 2: Marketing
- Section 3: Quality and standards
- Section 4: Improving team performance
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English. It is recommended that you complete the Business Start-up Level 2 course first, but it is not an entry requirement.
Format of Materials: Paper
Assignments: 4 self-assessed progress checks and 4 assignments
Exams: None
Prison Support Requirements: Facilitate tutor support
Tutor Support: Yes
Business Start-up
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
Certificate in Event Planning
This qualification will introduce learners to the skills required to plan, organise, and evaluate events – including weddings, live music, charity runs and corporate events such as conferences. This course covers marketing methods, market research, human resources, communication, health and safety, and customer service. Event planning is an important part of many jobs, including charity fundraising, but it can also be a specialist profession in itself, for example as a wedding planner, club promoter or conference organiser.
Unit 1: Planning an event.
Unit 2: Reviewing and evaluating an event.
Unit 3: Marketing and market research for event planning.
Unit 4: Planning human resources for events.
Unit 5: Communication and customer service for events.
PET entry requirements: Level 2 English
Format of course material: Paper-based (or file transfer on request)
Assignments: 5 written assignments
Exam: No
Prison support requirements: Support submission of assignments
Tutor support: Yes
Certificate in Principles of Customer Service
This course will provide you with the knowledge required to work in a customer service role in a range of different environments. Through a series of written assignments, you will develop an essential understanding of the principles and practices of providing effective customer service – including customer retention, resolving customer complaints and problems, monitoring feedback, and customer expectations.
The course contains seven units:
1. The customer service environment
2. Principles of Business
3. Resolving customers’ problems and complaints
4. Understanding customers and customer retention
5. Understanding how to monitor customer service interactions and feedback
6. Understanding equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace
7. Understanding how to manage incidents and collaborate with other departments in a contact centre
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Eight written assignments
Exams: None
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Any of PET’s other Level 3 Management courses
Find Out More: From NCC directly here
Certificate in Principles of Human Resource Practice
This qualification provides you with a firm foundation in the most common areas of human resource (HR) and will assist you in developing essential HR skills. It will provide you with the knowledge and skills for working in an HR role and is aimed at those who are new to HR or who are looking to further their HR career with a professional qualification.
The course consists of seven units:
- Introduction to Human Resources practices
- Introduction to employment legislation
- Understanding employee rights and obligations
- Understanding the management of employees’ performance
- Principles of employee motivation, commitment and engagement
- Understanding recruitment and selection
- Understanding onboarding, induction, training and development
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Seven written assignments
Exams: None
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Any other Level 3 Management course
Find Out More: From NCC directly
CMI Level 3 in 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 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
E-Commerce – How to Build a Successful Online Business
Written by someone with lived experience of prison, and also of running his own successful online business, this course equips you with the knowledge needed to succeed. Whether you’re looking to supplement an income or to sell items around the world, this course is for you. You will cover all aspects of selling products on eBay – one of the world’s largest platforms – and other similar online marketplaces and learn how to manage and grow your own business.
The course covers the following subjects:
- An introduction to e-commerce
- An introduction to reselling
- Products sourcing and selling
- Search engine optimisation and algorithms
- Let’s master eBay!
- Starting your own enterprise
- Accounting basics
- Implications of running your own online business
- Risks in setting up your own business
- Becoming a successful entrepreneur
- Developing your skills and knowledge
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Materials: Paper
Assignments: 8 assignments
Exams: None
Prison Support Requirements: Facilitate tutor support
Tutor Support: Yes