Apply to be PET’s Grants Administrator
PET is looking for an exceptional administrator and communicator who will be an integral member of the Access to Learning Team (A2L).
PET is looking for an exceptional administrator and communicator who will be an integral member of the Access to Learning Team (A2L).
Prisoners’ Education Trust is opening recruitment for a new Chair, with Elisabeth Davies stepping down after nearly five years in the role.
Our Head of Policy, Francesca Cooney examines the findings of the recent report on prison education from the Education Select Committee.
2021 saw over 1,300 people start courses in prison with PET. Discover our most popular courses since we launched our 2021–2022 prospectus.
In our submission to the Commission on Young Lives, we highlight the poor treatment of children in prisons and secure training centres.
In PET’s second blog about how prisons are recovering from the pandemic, we look at the changes we would like to see to the core day.
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:
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
A collaboration between Learning Together, Coracle Inside and HMPPS is yielding exciting developments in the provision of digital learning.
A new connected short course delivered at HMP Hull is supported by chromebooks through Learning Together’s partnership with Coracle Inside.
Seven changes that would make a real difference to prison learners and help to unlock their potential. Our suggestions to the Education Select Committee’s inquiry.
In this course, you’ll deepen your understanding of theories underpinning human behaviour – exploring memory, cognition and mental health. You’ll also develop your analytical and organisational skills, discovering which scientific research methods can be used to collect, process and analyse data.
The course contains four lessons that follow on from Part 1:
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English and Maths, plus Psychology A-Level Part 1
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Four 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
Charles Cockell, from Edinburgh University, discusses the successful Life Beyond project established through a partnership between Fife College and the Scottish Prison Service. Life Beyond challenges prisoners to think about science in a creative way.
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:
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
This course is designed for supervisors and managers within the construction industry and provides underpinning knowledge of managing health and safety in construction activities. Learn about general health and safety issues within a construction context, as well as the specific construction issues that make the industry amongst the most dangerous in which to work.
This course covers the following subjects:
Entry requirements: Level 2 English, plus a Level 2 NEBOSH or IOSH qualification and a Level 3 or above qualification
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Activities are given for each element with solutions in the workbook for self-marking. Mock exam supplied for practice and subsequent marking by tutor.
Exams: One open book exam
Prison support requirements: Support to submit coursework; organize and invigilate exams.
Tutor support: Yes
Find Out More: From the NEBOSH website here.
Six talented artists from prisons across England have won PET’s Paint-a-Postcard competition, celebrating the charity’s 30th anniversary. The cards then carried messages from over 50 serving prisoners, explaining what education meant to them.
This year the OU turns 50, and to celebrate we asked Ruth McFarlane to share just a snapshot of some of the brilliant opportunities that the OU offer across the secure estate.
Model: Inside Out
We’re in a culture where you keep emotions inside – the course gave me a chance to express myself.”
In 2017, an Inside Out partnership began between learners in HMP Swaleside and Criminology students from the University of Kent. The students studied ‘Issues in Criminal Justice’ over ten weeks, learning together in seminar groups in the prison. Participants were awarded credits from the University. In the second year, former inside students supported their peers in teaching assistant roles.
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
Part 2 – Succeeding with your own business
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
People aspiring to work in the fishing industry – for example as a water bailiff, fisheries inspector, or in a similar position in commercial fisheries – would be well-advised to consider this course. It also provides a sound knowledge base for those interested in running their own fisheries. On this course you’ll find out about water quality, freshwater and fish biology, fisheries law and enforcement, monitoring and improvement, and angling and recreation.
The course consists of seven modules:
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: None, but coursework can be sent to tutors for feedback and exam preparation.
Exams: Six open book exams, 1 hour 30 minutes each. Units 1-3 are compulsory, then learners can choose 3 out of 4 of the remaining units (4-7).
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of coursework. Organise and invigilate exams.
Tutor Support: Yes
Find Out More: From the IFM here
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.
In this module, you will explore a range of subjects in this module – including art history, English language, English literature and creative writing. The module touches on modern languages, history, religious studies,
classical studies and music too. It will help you to explore your creative side and hone your study skills.
There are three main blocks:
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
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
With this qualification, you’ll improve your understanding of human behaviour and interaction and explore issues around race, inequality and religion. You will get the opportunity to develop transferable skills like critical analysis, as well as independent thinking and research.
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:
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English and Maths
Assignments: Six written assignments. These do not contribute toward the final grade.
Exams: Two, each are 1 hour 30 minutes, and contribute 50% 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? Sociology A-Level Part 2
Find Out More: From NEC here
Jason was 17 when he went to prison. At the end of his sentence he decided to apply to university. In this video interview, he talks about overcoming rejection to gain a place at university, and why all institutions should welcome people with a history of imprisonment.
Prison leaders from around the globe tell us a little more about what they will be speaking about at the PET Annual Lecture on 4 June.
Egerton’s path to working in finance started in prison, when he saw a book about investing in the library. Getting funding from PET allowed him to take the next step towards realising his ambitions and still inspires today.
People in prison now have the chance to turn their minds to Youth Justice, Human Resources and even Beginners Chinese thanks to a host of new subjects on offer in PET’s 2018 curriculum.
© Prisoners' Education Trust 2024