We offer courses in a range of sectors – from social care to logistics – as well as GCSEs, A-levels and Open University Access modules. Here you’ll find information about every course we offer.
Do you work in a prison and want to help someone apply? Find out how on our support for prison staff page.
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.
The following courses in the Prospectus are no longer being funded:
Download a course card featuring detailed information by clicking Download PDF on each course entry.
Find out how people make sense of existence, morality and the divine. You will explore topics such as religious experiences, ethical theories and the role of religion in society — developing an understanding of different worldviews and the ability to think critically about moral and spiritual issues. This qualification cannot only help you build strong analytical and evaluative skills, but also fosters empathy, reflection and reasoned argument.
The course consists of the following units:
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Five written assignments. These do not contribute toward the final grade.
Exams: Three – each are 1 hour.
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments. Organize and facilitate exams.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Religious Studies A-Level Part 2
Find Out More: From NEC here
This course is the follow-up to Part 1, and you will continue to find out how people make sense of existence, morality and the divine. You will explore topics such as religious experiences, ethical theories and the role of religion in society — developing an understanding of different worldviews and the ability to think critically about moral and spiritual issues. This qualification cannot only help you build strong analytical and evaluative skills, but also fosters empathy, reflection and reasoned argument.
The course contains five lessons that follow on from Part 1:
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English, plus Religious Studies A-Level Part 1
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Six written assignments.
Exams: Three – all are 120 minutes long
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments. Organize and invigilate exams.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? There are range of possible progression options including: Open University Access Module Y032 People, Work and Society
Find Out More: From NEC here
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
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
Grow your knowledge in a range of technical subjects – including science, engineering and design, computing and IT, the environment and mathematics. As the foundation for further studies in these fields, this module will help build your confidence and prepare you for more OU study. It’s ideal if you’re exploring an interest in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
There are three main blocks:
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English and Maths.
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
This qualification focuses on the issues that shape our society – like identity, inequality, power, education, crime and culture. You’ll explore how social groups interact and how family, media and education impact opportunities, behaviour and beliefs. This course builds valuable skills in critical thinking, analysis and argument construction — important in everyday life and widely valued if you want to work in sectors like education, social work, journalism, criminology or public policy.
The course consists of the following units:
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Assignments: Five written assignments.
Exams: Three invigilated, closed book exams (60 minutes each)
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
This course is the follow-up to Part 1, and will continue to focus on the issues that shape our society – like identity, inequality, power, education, crime and culture. You’ll explore how social groups interact and how family, media and education impact opportunities, behaviour and beliefs. This course builds valuable skills in critical thinking, analysis and argument construction — important in everyday life and widely valued if you want to work in sectors like education, social work, journalism, criminology or public policy.
This course contains five lessons that follow on from Part 1:
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English, plus Sociology A-Level Part 1
Assignments: Five written assignments.
Exams: Three – each are 2 hours long.
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments. Organize and invigilate exams.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? A range of possible progression options, including Open University Access Module Y032 People, Work and Society.
Find Out More: From NEC here
This course will deepen your understanding of key social issues as you investigate the structures and processes that shape society and human interactions. You will delve into the study of social behaviour and institutions – from examining family dynamics to exploring social inequality. You will also explore gender roles, social structures and cultural norms. With this qualification, you can develop the critical thinking and analytical skills needed to examine the world around you.
Structure of course:
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Nine written assignments
Exams: Two invigilated closed book exams (105 minutes each)
Prison Support Requirements: Facilitate tutor support via email. This often requires scanning learner assignments and email them to their tutor.
Tutor Support: Yes – accessed with prison staff support
Focusing on the role of the sports coach, this theory-based course will teach learners about anatomy and physiology for sports coaching, coaching methods and models, ethics within sports coaching and how to understand the athlete’s mind. The course covers many different sports and the knowledge gained can improve your coaching ability in all of them.
Structure of course:
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Six
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
This course will give you the skills to support people to age healthily through physical activity and exercise. You will build your knowledge of the effects of the ageing process and the impact of inactivity on the body. You will find out how to adapt fitness programmes for older people, as well as discovering other services available to support the wellbeing needs of the UK’s ageing population.
The course covers the following topics:
Entry requirements: Level 2 English, plus a Level 2 fitness qualification
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Four written assignments
Exams: None
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
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