Prison education works: a review of the evidence
In a new Clinks Evidence Library review, PET CEO Jon Collins takes a look at the evidence on the impact of prison education.
In a new Clinks Evidence Library review, PET CEO Jon Collins takes a look at the evidence on the impact of prison education.
Thanks to ongoing support from ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, 41 army veterans in prison have started distance learning courses since July 2022.
1,375 learners started a course with PET in prison last year. Find out which courses were a hit with our learners.
2021 saw over 1,300 people start courses in prison with PET. Discover our most popular courses since we launched our 2021–2022 prospectus.
The new trustees include a former prison governor, a further education college vice principal, and the founder of a fundraising challenge.
This is an introductory course aimed at anyone involved in managing workplace health and safety risks including those who undertake risk assessments. You will develop straightforward, practical health and safety risk management skills so you can go beyond risk assessment, to effectively control the health and safety risks caused by hazards in your workplace. This is the perfect platform for taking further NEBOSH courses at a higher level.
The course consists of 3 elements:
Element 1: Why manage health and safety risks
Element 2: Managing risk
Element 3: Sources of information and the application of HSE’s risk management tools
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: A written risk assessment is completed at the end of the course. You will be asked to consider a realistic workplace scenario and complete a risk assessment to identify how you would manage and prioritise the risks present. This assessment needs to be submitted to RRC International for external examination.
Exams: No
Prison Support Requirements: Facilitate assessment
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Any NEBOSH Level 3 Certificate
Find Out More:
This course is the next step on from APM Project Fundamentals. Relevant to both the construction and engineering sectors, you’ll develop your knowledge of risk management when planning or monitoring progress on any project. This qualification works well as a follow on from our PRINCE2, Agile or Scrum courses, as you’ll be learning to manage risks for any method or approach.
This is an introductory course roughly equivalent to RQF Level 3.
The course covers the following subjects:
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English, plus a previous qualification in project management
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 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:
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
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:
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
Economics shapes how we allocate limited resources and measures the impact of our choices. You’ll study the UK and global economy, using economic theory to analyse issues and present your ideas and conclusions in a clear, logical way. Whether you’re pursuing a career in business, finance or politics, this course will build your problem-solving, analytical and decision-making skills, in readiness for a wide range of future career and university choices.
The course contains four units that follow on from Part 1
7. Markets
8. Government Intervention in Markets
9. International Economics
10. Macroeconomic Strategies and Policies
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English and Maths, plus Economics Part 1
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Four written assignments (These do not contribute towards the final grade).
Exams: Three exams. Each are two hours, and contribute 35%, 35% and 30% of 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. Facilitate and invigilate exams.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? OU Access Modules Y032:People, Work and Society, or YO33: Science, Technology and Maths
Find Out More: From NEC here
APM project management qualifications are regarded by the industry as the best for construction and engineering. This qualification covers a wide range of management topics. You will develop your knowledge of management structures, project management planning, scheduling and resource management, risk management, communication, leadership and teamwork.
The course has 18 modules that cover the following 10 areas:
1. Project Management and the Operating Environment
2. Project Life Cycle
3. Management Structures by which Projects Operate
4. Project Management Planning
5. Scope Management
6. Scheduling and Resource Management
7. Risk Management and Issue Management
8.Project Quality Management
9. Communication
10. Leadership and Teamwork
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: None
Exams: One multiple choice exam
Prison Support Requirements: Organize and invigilate exam
Tutor Support: Yes
Find Out More: You can read more about the course provider, Cupe International, here
This course is designed for people who have fire safety responsibilities at work. It provides the knowledge and understanding to carry out an effective fire risk assessment, as well as embed good practice in the workplace. Holders of this accredited qualification can help their organisation to meet its fire safety responsibilities. With the knowledge gained on this course, you can help create a safer environment for employees and visitors to premises and an improved fire safety culture for employers and building managers.
The course has two units (FSC1 and FSC2), that cover the following subject areas:
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English, plus a level 2 NEBOSH or IOSH qualification
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: None, but coursework is recommended to send to RRC International for feedback before exams.
Exams: One open book exam and one risk assessment.
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments. Organize and facilitate exams.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Any other Level 3 NEBOSH Certificate
Find Out More: From the NEBOSH website here.
Matteo Cassini from Justice Defenders talks about breaking down barriers between prisoners and prison staff through legal education in Kenya and Uganda.
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.
In this blog, we hear from Learning Together and Rowan Mackenzie about how they have adapted their work to meet the challenges of the lockdown.
In this blog post we hear from Sacha Darke, a senior lecturer at University of Westminster, who recently travelled to South America to visit existing and developing higher education prison initiatives.
In 2019 we helped people in prison start just over 1,700 courses. Discover last year’s movers and shakers as we reveal the ten most popular choices.
Prisoners’ Education Trust has appointed five new trustees, including a charity campaigner, a former Ministry of Justice senior official, and the 2019 FE Leader of the Year.
Pictures, postcards and inspiration from our 30th birthday party, as staff, trustees, former prisons learners, supporters and founders gathered to help us celebrate.
This course is intended for managers, supervisors and staff from all types of organisations who need a broad understanding of health and safety issues. It is also suitable as a first step for working in health and safety, as it provides both a valuable overview and a sound basis for further study. You will cover subjects such as health and safety management systems, managing risk, physical and psychological health, chemical and biological agents, general workplace issues and equipment, as well as fire and electrical safety.
The course has two units (NG1 and NG2), that cover the following subjects:
1. Why we should manage workplace health and safety
2. How health and safety management systems work and what they look like
3. Managing risk – understanding people and processes
4. Health and safety monitoring and measuring
5. Physical and psychological health
6. Musculoskeletal health
7. Chemical and biological agents
8. General workplace issues
9. Work equipment
10. Fire
11. Electricity
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English, plus a Level 2 NEBOSH or IOSH qualification
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: None, but coursework is recommended to send to RRC International for feedback before exams.
Exams: One two-hour open book exam testing elements 1-4 (NG1). There is also one practical risk assessment, which covers elements 5-11 (NG2).
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments. Organize and invigilate exam and assessments.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Level 6 National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety
Find Out More:
Suitable for sailors and motor boaters, this introductory course will give you the skills to navigate around familiar waters by day – expanding your knowledge of seamanship, navigation, and meteorology. You will find out more about nautical terms, rope and anchor work, safety, international regulations, navigation and compass-work, and chart-work.
The course comprises of fifteen subjects:
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English and Maths
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: None – course contains a self-assessed workbook
Exams: Two exams
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments. Facilitate and invigilate exams.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Coastal Skipper
Find Out More: via the EASS here
This is a useful qualification for those interested in developing and implementing effective environmental management systems within an organisation. The course focuses on the general principles of the management of environmental and pollution control, and explores the main elements of UK and EC legislation for environmental protection. You will learn about Environmental Management Systems, sources and use of energy and energy efficiency, control of pollution, and planning for and dealing with environmental emergencies.
The course consists of two units:
These units cover the following subjects:
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English, plus a Level 2 NEBOSH or IOSH qualification.
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: None but coursework is recommended to send to RRC International for feedback before exams.
Exams: One theoretical (EC1) and one practical invigilated exam (EC2).
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of coursework. Organise and invigilate exams.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Any of the other Level 3 NEBOSH Certificates
Find Out More: From NEBOSH’s website here.
In History GCSE you will explore some of the key events, personalities and societies that shaped world history. Learners will also have the opportunity to develop a set of important skills such as communication, problem solving, analysis, research and independent thinking
The course consists of the following units:
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Eleven written assignments (corresponding to the above units, plus one introductory assignment). These do not count towards 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? A-Level History
Find Out More: From NEC’s website
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:
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
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
Read a rundown of 2018’s ten most popular courses and hear from some of our learners.
In this blog, our Head of Fundraising Cassie rounds up a terrific year of fundraising challenges and campaigns and makes clear just how important your support is.
Diana Scott supports students with English language and academic skills as a foundation for their further study. Here she discusses the important role English for Academic Purposes (EAP) support can play for prison learners.
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.
UCAS will no longer require people to disclose a past conviction when applying for most university courses, in a decision that was called for by PET, Unlock and the Longford Trust.
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