Accredited Courses

We offer a growing range of OCN-accredited courses giving participants the opportunity to gain nationally recognised accreditation while enjoying the creative process.

Our primary aim is to support the development of creative and social skills, using the arts as a tool to facilitate the learning process. The arts are at the core of programme delivery and various mediums are used to achieve learning outcomes. Drama and music are strong elements in most courses but other art forms such as video and creative writing are also employed depending on the interests of the participants.

Teaching methods are dynamic and encourage direct participation from the learners through practical exercises and hands on experience. Traditional classroom tutorials are kept to a minimum as most teaching takes place through informal group activity.

A strong focus is given to preparing and enabling learners to approach employment, and/or further training, with confidence and to improve access to the creative industries.

Each of our OCN courses represents 30 hours of learning and is usually spread over a period of six to eight days. However, we can look at delivering some of the courses within a shorter time-frame if required.

We have recently created a comparison chart that shows how our OCN courses compare with those of other accrediting bodies.

Here are the OCN courses we currently have available (these can also be delivered as unaccredited courses, if required):

Music and Literacy - Entry level or Level 1

Our Music and Literacy course is a particularly popular workshop which uses music as a tool for raising literacy levels. It is delivered through music composition sessions in which participants are encouraged to write their own lyrics and create their own piece of music.

Pre-employment Training– Level 1 or Level 2

This course is especially suited to those who have had very little success in the job market. Through the use of drama techniques it is designed to enhance social skills, giving the participants the confidence to handle job interviews and the workplace.

Drama Performance - Level 1 or 2

Our Drama Performance course aims at introducing participants to drama techniques and to support them in developing creative thinking and transferable skills.
New Directions

New Directions is an integrated arts project using drama and accredited training to provide young offenders with valuable support during the rehabilitation process.
Music and Maths

The accredited workshop programme is coming soon. The unaccredited workshop programme is currently available.

Music Technology

A new course that is already proving very popular. Now available in accredited form.

Peer Mentoring

This course has just been accredited. More information soon.

For more information, please contact us at:

t: 020 7655 0909

e: info@prisonarts.co.uk

or enter your request into our Enquiries Form