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.
AAT Certificate in Accounting
By gaining this Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) certification, you will demonstrate you have the practical, real-world accounting knowledge sought by employers, not just in the UK but also internationally. The course will provide you with a solid foundation for working in finance by introducing you to a wide range of accountancy principles, techniques and skills, including bookkeeping transactions and controls, and understanding cost recording systems.
Format of course material: Paper-format
Structure of course:
1. Introduction to Bookkeeping
2. Principles of Bookkeeping Controls
3. Principles of Costing
4. The Business Environment
Course provider:
Open Study College (OSC)
1760 Solihull Parkway, Birmingham Business Park B37 7YD
0330 433 2876
www.openstudycollege.com
Accreditation: AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians); Ofqual 603/6338/1
Academic level: Level 2
Study hours: 340
Maximum course duration: This course needs to be completed within 12 months. If an extension is required, prison staff to contact the supplier directly
Entry requirements: Level 2 English and Maths
Course provider tutor support: There is supplier tutor support available. Tutors will mark assignments and provide feedback and queries which can be submitted by post or email via prison staff.
Tutors will respond directly to learners but can send responses into prison staff if preferred.
See “Contact provider” section for more details.
Assignments: There are nine assignments to complete and submit.
Assignments are to be submitted one at a time so the student can act on any feedback their tutor may give them.
Assignments will be marked within 10 working days (but often sooner).
Exams: Three exams (3 external exams and one synoptic assessment tests the learners’ understanding of connections between the different topics covered across the qualification).
Computer based exams that must be held at an approved AAT assessments venue under controlled exam conditions.
Exams are available upon demand at most centres apart from the synoptic assessment which is available 2/3 times per month. Each written exam has a 1hr 30 min time limit with the synoptic assessment having a 2 hour time limit.
Exam fees not included in the course cost. You can apply to PET to cover the exam cost by submitting an EEE application form. Speak to your distance learning coordinator for more information.
This can only be taken upon release or ROTL at an external AAT exam centre.
Refer to “Prison support requirements”.
Prison support requirements:
- Support assessment submission (ideally scan to the tutor or post). It is recommended to make copies in case assignments get lost
- Help facilitate exam
- Support arrangement of exams at local centre
- Contact supplier for more info on assignment submission and exam facilitation and exam extension. See contact details are above in the “Course provider” section
Certificate: Yes, students receive a Certificate upon completion
Progression route: Sage Computerised Accounting for Business Level 3. To discuss any progression routes, call our free Advice Line on 0800 048 7520 on Tuesdays (10-12pm and 2-4pm) and Thursdays (10am-12pm and 2-6pm).
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
Adapting Exercise for Ante Natal and Post Natal Clients
This course gives you the knowledge and skills to safely help pre and postnatal women to explore the benefits of fitness – a part of our population often underserved in the industry. You will learn about the conditions associated with pregnancy, health and safety considerations, nutrition, and anatomical and physiological changes. Using this knowledge, you will then plan a pre and postnatal exercise class.
The course consists of five units:
- Understanding physical conditions associated with pregnancy
- Critical health and safety considerations
- Nutrition and pregnancy
- Planning pre- and post-natal exercise
- Anatomical and physiological changes during pregnancy
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English, plus an accredited Level 2 sport or fitness qualification
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Two assignments – a worksheet, and a case study
Exams: One multiple choice exam
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments. Organize and invigilate exam.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? HFE offer a range of similar Level 3 theory courses including Nutrition for Physical Activity.
Find Out More: via HFE’s website here
Adapting Exercise for Independently Active, Older People
This course explores how fitness professionals can make a real difference to clients' lives by understanding the ageing process and prescribing safe and effective exercise. You will learn about bodily changes for people aged 65 and over (including muscular, skeletal, nervous and cardiorespiratory changes) and find out recommendations for physical activity. Using this knowledge, you will analyse the effects changes have on the body and plan an exercise session for older adults. You will also learn how to adapt certain exercises for older clients.
The course covers the following topics:
- Chief Medical Officer recommendations for 65+ years of physical activity
- Understanding changes to the muscular, skeletal, nervous and cardio-respiratory systems
- Analysing the effects that changes to those systems have on the body
- How to plan an exercise session for older clients
- Safely adapting various exercises for older clients
Entry requirements: Level 2 English, plus a Level 2 fitness qualification
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: A worksheet, and a case study
Exams: One multiple choice exam
Prison support requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments. Facilitate and invigilate exam.
Tutor support: Yes
What’s next: HFE offer a range of similar Level 3 theory courses including Nutrition for Physical Activity.
Find out more: On HFE’s website here
Advanced AI for Business Transformation
Building on foundational Artificial Intelligence (AI) knowledge, this course looks into the strategic implementation of AI to revolutionise business operations. You will examine the shift from outdated Silo operations to dynamic and integrated AI operations. Through practical, real-world examples you'll see how AI can enhance customer experience and capture value using robust data management and collection.
Structure of course:
- Data, Decisions, and Disruption
- From Silo operations to AI operations
- The importance of robust data management and collection
- Building business communities
- Strategies for using AI
- Value-first community approach
- Data-driven decisions
- Implementing disruptive AI solutions
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English and Foundations of AI: Business and Marketing Level 2.
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Four
Exams: None
Prison Support Requirements: Facilitate tutor support via email. This often requires scanning learner assignments and emailing them to their tutor.
Tutor Support: Yes
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
AI-Powered Marketing
This course will empower you to design and implement AI-driven marketing strategies that are exceptionally effective in today's data-rich world. Moving beyond foundational concepts, you will explore how AI enables precise targeting of customers, personalises customer experiences, and maximises campaign performance. You will learn how to analyse customer data and study practical examples of new marketing workflows.
Structure of course:
- Precision, Personalisation, and Performance
- Targeting and personalisation
- Core avatars
- Data analysis techniques
- Building customer communities
- Leveraging AI tools to develop client relationships
- AI-ops-DNA marketing workflows
- AI voice sales agents
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English and Foundations of AI: Business and Marketing Level 2.
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Four
Exams: None
Prison Support Requirements: Facilitate tutor support via email. This often requires scanning learner assignments and emailing them to their tutor.
Tutor Support: Yes
APM Project Fundamentals
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
APM Risk Management
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:
- General Definitions
- Benefits
- Principles
- Process/Initiate/Identify/Assess/Plan Responses
- Organisation & Control
- Behaviour
- Application
- Risk identification techniques/ Qualitative risk assessment/ Quantitative risk assessment/ Risk response
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
Arts and Languages Access Module (Y031)
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:
- Finding your voice (English literature and language)
- Speaking out (Language use in popular culture)
- Visions of Protest (Art in protest)
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