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.
Peer Mentoring Certificate
Developed by PET and co-written by prison peer mentors, this course will be useful for mentors in all roles – including healthcare, workshops and education. You will focus on developing transferable mentoring skills that will be valuable after release, particularly for those looking to work or volunteer in a social care setting. The course explores the concept and theory of mentoring, including communication, listening, boundaries and confidentiality, and reflection.
The course consists of 9 units:
- Mentoring – so what is it?
- Let’s Talk Communication
- More Personal Baggage Than a Coach Tour
- Listening – Er, What?
- Mentoring – So What’s It Good For?
- ‘Nuff Said! – Boundaries and Confidentiality
- Mentoring – Stages and Barriers, and Stages of a Mentoring Relationship
- Mirror, Mirror – Time for Reflection
- Information
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Fifteen written assignments
Exams: None
Prison Support Requirements: Support completion and submission of assignments
Tutor Support: None
What’s Next? Understanding Mental Health Care Level 3 (NCC)
Find Out More: The course was featured in a recent issue of Inside Time – read here.
PET Short Course – Business, Accounting and Bookkeeping
If you are thinking about making a start with distance learning and looking for useful tips to help you on the way, PET's short courses are a great place to start. With our short courses, there’s no pressure: you won’t need to submit assignments or sit an exam. Instead it’s an opportunity for you get a taste of distance learning, working at your own pace. By giving you the chance to experience studying with PET, you can prepare to embark on a full distance learning course and be confident you’ll hit the ground running.
This course aims to give you a taste of what it is like to study courses related to business, accounting and bookkeeping at Level 2 and above. Courses in these three areas are very popular amongst prisoner learners. Increased knowledge of cashflow, planning and marketing can be of great benefit in day to day life.
This is a FREE course which is printable via the Prison Staff Log-in page of our website. There is no need to apply for funding to PET.
The course contains five units:
- Time Management
- Reading and Noting
- Academic Writing: Clear Communication
- Essays and Exams
- Making the Most of Distance Learning
Entry Requirements: Level 1 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based (available for download)
Assignments: None – instead, the course contains a series of self-assessed exercises. (Answer sheets are also included).
Exams: None
Prison Support Requirements: Print the course and distribute to learner.
Tutor Support: No
What’s Next? Once you have achieved Level 2 English and Maths, you can apply for any PET course related to business, accounting or book-keeping
Find Out More: On the Prison Staff log-in page of our website.
PET Short Course – Construction, Trades, Health and Safety
If you are thinking about making a start with distance learning and looking for useful tips to help you on the way, PET's short courses are a great place to start. With our short courses, there’s no pressure: you won’t need to submit assignments or sit an exam. Instead it’s an opportunity for you get a taste of distance learning, working at your own pace. By giving you the chance to experience studying with PET, you can prepare to embark on a full distance learning course and be confident you’ll hit the ground running.
This course aims to give you a taste of what it is like to study courses related to construction, or health and safety at Level 2 and above. Courses in these three areas are very popular amongst prisoner learners, and can increase employment prospects in the construction industry upon release.
This is a FREE course which is printable via the Prison Staff Log-in page of our website. There is no need to apply for funding to PET.
The course contains five units:
- Time Management
- Reading and Noting
- Academic Writing: Clear Communication
- Essays and Exams
- Making the Most of Distance Learning
Entry Requirements: Level 1 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based (available for download)
Assignments: None – instead, the course contains a series of self-assessed exercises. (Answer sheets are also included).
Exams: None
Prison Support Requirements: Print the course and distribute to learner.
Tutor Support: No
What’s Next? Once you have achieved Level 2 English, you can apply for one of PET’s Level 2 construction and health and safety courses.
Find Out More: On the Prison Staff log-in page of our website.
PET Short Course – Mental Health and Counselling
If you are thinking about making a start with distance learning and looking for useful tips to help you on the way, PET's short courses are a great place to start. With our short courses, there’s no pressure: you won’t need to submit assignments or sit an exam. Instead it’s an opportunity for you get a taste of distance learning, working at your own pace. By giving you the chance to experience studying with PET, you can prepare to embark on a full distance learning course and be confident you’ll hit the ground running.
This course aims to give you a taste of what it is like to study courses related to counselling or mental health at Level 2 and above. Increased knowledge of these areas are useful for everyday life, and can open the door to further study, as well as potentially finding volunteering or employment in this sector.
This is a FREE course which is printable via the Prison Staff Log-in page of our website. There is no need to apply for funding to PET.
The course contains five units:
- Time Management
- Reading and Noting
- Academic Writing: Clear Communication
- Essays and Exams
- Making the Most of Distance Learning
Entry Requirements: Level 1 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based (available for download)
Assignments: None – instead, the course contains a series of self-assessed exercises. (Answer sheets are also included).
Exams: None
Prison Support Requirements: Print the course and distribute to learner.
Tutor Support: No
What’s Next? Once you have achieved Level 2 English, you can apply for any PET course related to health and social care, or counselling.
Find Out More: On the Prison Staff log-in page of our website.
PET Short Course – Sports and Nutrition
If you are thinking about making a start with distance learning and looking for useful tips to help you on the way, PET's short courses are a great place to start. With our short courses, there’s no pressure: you won’t need to submit assignments or sit an exam. Instead it’s an opportunity for you get a taste of distance learning, working at your own pace. By giving you the chance to experience studying with PET, you can prepare to embark on a full distance learning course and be confident you’ll hit the ground running.
This course aims to give you a taste of what it is like to study courses related to sport and nutrition at Level 2 or above. It will improve your knowledge of anatomy and health, and may help with obtaining work or volunteering opportunities as a fitness instructor.
This is a FREE course which is printable via the Prison Staff Log-in page of our website. There is no need to apply for funding to PET.
The course contains five units:
- Time Management
- Reading and Noting
- Academic Writing: Clear Communication
- Essays and Exams
- Making the Most of Distance Learning
Entry Requirements: Level 1 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based (available for download)
Assignments: None – instead, the course contains a series of self-assessed exercises. (Answer sheets are also included).
Exams: None
Prison Support Requirements: Print the course and distribute to learner.
Tutor Support: No
What’s Next? Once you have achieved Level 2 English, you can apply for any PET course related to fitness or nutrition
Find Out More: On the Prison Staff log-in page of our website.
Philosophy A-Level Part 1
This course delves into some of life’s fundamental questions – about existence, knowledge and ethics. You’ll deepen your understanding of human beings and free will, and consider questions about God’s existence and what knowledge is. This course also improves transferable skills, such as independent studies and the ability to explore and evaluate concepts.
The course consists of five lessons:
- Introduction to Epistemology (Philosophical terminology, what is knowledge? Responses to Gettier)
- Perception as a Source of Knowledge (Direct realism, indirect realism, Berkeley’s idealism)
- Reason as a Source of Knowledge (rationalism empiricism, innatism, intuition and deduction, empiricist responses, scepticism)
- Normative Ethical Theories (utilitarianism, Kantian deontological ethics, Aristotelian virtue ethics)
- Meta-Ethics and Applied Ethics (moral realism, moral anti-realism, applied ethics)
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Five 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? Philosophy A-Level Part 2
Find Out More: From NEC here
Philosophy A-Level Part 2
This course is the follow-up to Part 1, and continues to encourage deep thinking about truth, morality, existence and the nature of knowledge. Philosophy involves questioning the world around us and developing rigorous reasoning skills. You will explore classic and contemporary ideas in ethics, epistemology, religion and the mind — learning to evaluate arguments, uncover meaning and think independently. This course can help you strengthen your critical thinking and logical analysis and improve your communication and essay-writing skills.
The course contains five lessons that follow on from Part 1:
- Metaphysics of God
- The concept and nature of ‘God’
- Arguments relating to the existence of God
- Religious language
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English, plus Philosophy A-Level Part 1
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Four written assignments.
Exams: Three invigilated, closed book exams
Prison Support Requirements: Facilitate tutor support via email. This often requires scanning learner assignments and email them to their tutor. Co-ordinate with NEC to arrange and facilitate exams.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Open University Access Module Y032 People, Work and Society
Find Out More: From NEC here
Politics A-Level Part 1
This qualification explores the systems, ideologies and institutions that shape our world, focusing on real world events and current affairs. You’ll study UK and US political systems and ideologies, government structures, elections, power and participation. On this course, you will gain a deep understanding of how democracy works (or doesn’t) and what influences political change.
The course consists of the following units:
1. Democracy and political parties
2. Elections and voting behaviour
3. The Constitution and Parliament
4. The Executive and Judiciary
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Four 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. Co-ordinate with NEC to arrange and facilitate exam where necessary.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Politics A-Level Part 2
Find Out More: From NEC here
Politics A-Level Part 2
This course is the follow-up to Part 1, and will continue to explore the systems, ideologies and institutions that shape our world, focusing on real world events and current affairs. You’ll study UK and US political systems and ideologies, government structures, elections, power and participation. On this course, you will gain a deep understanding of how democracy works (or doesn’t) and what influences political change.
The course contains six lessons that follow on from Part 1:
5. Conservatism and Liberalism
6. Socialism and Nationalism
7. U.S. Constitution and Congress
8. The U.S. President and the Supreme Court
9. Democracy and Participation in the U.S.
10. Comparative Approaches
Entry Requirements: Level 2 English, plus Politics A-Level Part 1
Format of Course Materials: Paper-based
Assignments: Six written assignments.
Exams: Three – invigilated, closed book exams (120 minutes each)
Prison Support Requirements: Facilitate tutor support via email. This often requires scanning learner assignments and email them to their tutor. Co-ordinate with NEC to arrange and facilitate exams.
Tutor Support: Yes
What’s Next? Open University Access Module Y032 People, Work and Society
Find Out More: From NEC here
Principles of British Wildlife Care and Rehabilitation
This course will introduce you to the basic principles and ethics of wildlife care including rehabilitation and release, and develop your knowledge in the care and management of birds, small mammals, larger mammals, and marine mammals.
1. Basic principles and ethics of wildlife care including rehabilitation and release
2. Care and management of birds
3. Care and management of small mammals
4. Care and management of larger mammals
5. Care and management of marine mammals
6. Rehabilitation considerations and release methods
PET entry requirements: Level 2 English
Format of course material: Paper-based
Assignments: Six assignments
Exam: No
Prison support requirements: Support assessment submission and contact supplier for tutor support
Tutor support: Tutors give support by providing feedback and answering queries.