Our work in prisons

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PET works in every prison in England and Wales, funding distance learning and offering advice and guidance.

We work to ‘fill the gaps’ in prison education by providing funding for 120 distance learning courses, in levels and subjects otherwise unavailable. Distance learning courses are paper-based courses that people can complete in their own time, and from within their cells.

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To people in prison, this way of learning offers five main advantages:

  1. Achieve the same qualifications that they would in school, college or beyond
  2. Choose from a wide range of subjects and levels
  3. Get sent course materials and get feedback from a personal tutor by post
  4. Study independently, at their own pace and in their own space
  5. Take their course with them if they’re transferred to another prison

We also offer advice and guidance to people in prison. Every day our staff make visits, answer letters and take phone calls from people who are keen to use their time to gain qualifications and build a positive future.

Education department entrance in prison

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PET offers 120 different distance learning 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.

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