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.
Certificate in Counselling Skills
This qualification will introduce you to the use of counselling skills in everyday life and some of the approaches that underpin these skills. You will explore how to engage in a counselling interaction effectively and how to use counselling skills in relation to personal development. You will also build your understanding of areas such as diversity and ethics in counselling. This course does not qualify you to practice as a counsellor, however it may be a useful stepping stone for further study.
The course consists of four units:
- Counselling Skills
- Introduction to Counselling Skill Theory
- Diversity and Ethics in the Use of Counselling skills
- Counselling Skills and personal development
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assessments: Four written assignments
Exams: None
Prison Support Requirements: Support submission and completion of assignments
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s next? Certificate in Understanding Substance Misuse (Level 3); Understanding Mental Health Care QCF (Level 3)
Find out more: On BSY’s website here
Certificate in Event Planning
This course is an ideal starting point if you want to pursue a career as an event planner, but also if you are preparing to work in a job role which requires you to plan and organise events as part of your responsibilities. The qualification will help you build the skills required to plan, organise and evaluate events. It covers marketing methods, market research, human resources, communication and customer service.
Unit 1: Planning an event.
Unit 2: Reviewing and evaluating an event.
Unit 3: Marketing and market research for event planning.
Unit 4: Planning human resources for events.
Unit 5: Communication and customer service for events.
PET entry requirements: Level 2 English
Format of course material: Paper-based
Assignments: Five written assignments
Exam: No
Prison support requirements: Support submission of assignments
Tutor support: Yes
Certificate in Foundation Journalism
Accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), this course has been especially adapted for PET learners to help you develop your journalistic skills. You will complete units on the English language, news stories, recording information, feature writing and sports reporting.
There are six available units, that combine to create eleven credits:
- How to use the English language
- Using the English language
- How to tell a news story
- Recording information
- Feature writing
- Sports reporting
This course includes several additional unites that can be completed on ROTL or upon release in order to gain the full qualification.
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Written Coursework, Portfolio of Evidence, Practical Assignment (e.g. an article in prison newspaper or magazine)
Exams: None
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments. Ensuring students have access to media sources, such as newspapers and magazines.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? A-Level English Language (Part 1), or Open University Access Module YO33: Starting with Arts and Languages
Find Out More: From the NCTJ here
Certificate in Health and Social Care
Providing an excellent knowledge base in health and social care, this course is a great starting point if you aspire to work in the sector and want to achieve a nationally recognised qualification. The course covers human growth and development, safeguarding, and equality and diversity in health and social care settings.
The course has three units:
- Introduction to Equality, Diversity & Rights in Health & Social Care
- Introduction to Human Growth and Development
- Introduction to Safeguarding & Protection in Health & Social Care
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Three written assignments
Exams: None
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Health and Social Care Level 3 Award
Find Out More: From the OSC here
Certificate in Information, Advice and Guidance
This course aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of the key principles of information, advice and guidance. The qualification is designed for individuals who are looking to work in roles such as careers advice, peer mentoring, or housing support. You will cover interaction skills, signposting and referrals, as well as how to manage information and work within existing networks to deliver IAG.
The course consists of the following units:
- Information, advice or guidance (IAG) in practice
- Developing interaction skills for IAG
- Signposting and referral in IAG
- Managing Information
- Operating within networks to support IAG
Entry requirements: Level 2 in English or equivalent
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: A portfolio of evidence
Exams: None
Prison support requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments
Tutor support: Yes
What’s next: Understanding Coaching and Mentoring Level 3 (NEC
Find out more: From NCC directly here
Certificate in Principles of Customer Service
This course provides the knowledge needed to work in a range of different environments in a customer service role. You will develop an understanding of the principles and practices of providing an effective service, including customer retention and resolving complaints. You will also discover how customer service delivery affects customer expectations.
The course contains seven units:
1. The customer service environment
2. Principles of Business
3. Resolving customers’ problems and complaints
4. Understanding customers and customer retention
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Seven written assignments
Exams: None
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Any of PET’s other Level 3 Management courses
Find Out More: From NCC directly here
Certificate in Principles of Human Resource Practice
Human Resources (HR) professionals hire, develop and look after employees in a company. If you are interested in HR or are looking to further your HR career with a professional qualification, this course could be for you. It offers a firm foundation in common areas of HR and will help you develop the knowledge and skills needed for working in an HR role.
The course consists of:
- Understanding employment law
- Recruitment
- Employee rights
- Managing performance
- Carrying out learning needs analysis
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Seven written assignments
Exams: None
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Any other Level 3 Management course
Find Out More: From NCC directly
Certificate in Understanding Mental Health Care
If you support people with mental health problems but are not necessarily a mental health professional, this course could meet your needs. You will learn more about mental health and how people with mental health problems can be best supported. You will also deepen your knowledge of the legal policy and service framework for mental health, as well as principles of duty of care, interventions, support planning and risk management.
The course consists of six units:
Unit 1 – Understand the legal, policy and service framework in mental health
Unit 2 – Principles for implementing duty of care in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings
Unit 3 – Understand mental well-being and mental health promotion
Unit 4 – Understand mental health problems
Unit 5 – Understand mental health interventions
Unit 6 – Understand care and support planning and risk management in mental health
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Six written assignments
Exams: No
Prison Support Requirements: Support submission and completion of assignments
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Open University: Access Module Yo32: People, Work and Society
Find Out More: via NCC here
Certificate in Understanding Substance Misuse
This course will help you to develop an increased understanding of substance misuse, equipping you with knowledge and skills that can be used whether you are personally or professionally involved in this field. The course covers the effects and symptoms of drug use, as well as responses including legislation, harm reduction and intervention. It also has a unit focused especially on substance misuse among young people.
This course is comprised of three units:
- Understanding Drug Use: Facts, Effects, Symptoms and Attitudes
- Understanding Responses to Substance Misuse: Legislation, Harm Reduction and Interventions
- Understanding Alcohol and Drug Use in Young People
Entry requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Three written assignments
Exams: None
Tutor support: Yes
Prison support requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments
What’s next? Understanding Mental Healthcare QCF (Level 3)
Find Out More: From NCC here
Classical Civilisation A-Level Part 1
The ancient Greeks and Romans created a legacy that has shaped the literature, language, arts, politics and philosophy of the western world. This course allows you to develop a critical approach to the literature and culture of this fascinating period in history. You will study poetry and plays and analyse the issues and values that shaped classical civilisation.
“The World of the Hero” explores both Greek and Roman epics, with the study of either Homer’s Iliad or Odyssey and Virgil’s Aeneid.
There are four lessons:
1. Homer’s world of the hero: Odyssey 1
2. Homer’s world of the hero: Odyssey 2
3. Virgil’s world of the hero: Aeneid 1
4. Virgil’s world of the hero: Aeneid 2
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Seven written assignments. These do not count towards the final grade.
Exams: None – go straight to Part 2
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Classical Civilisation A-Level Part 2
Find Out More: From NEC here