Industrial placements are one of the big draws for T levels, the first wave of which are launching in less than two years.

But the BBC, one of the biggest public sector employers in the UK, have withdrawn plans to offer such placements for students owing to the associated ‘significant and costly’ needs, dependencies and risks.

The BBC was apparently involved in phase one of the pilot, which involved offering placements for four students in a software development team within the BBC design and engineering department based in Salford, but it will not take part in phase two.

An email seen by Tes says: “The consensus by our director is that the BBC will withdraw from the phase two pilot at this time and observe the outcomes and findings other participating employers identify, after which we will review our position.”

It’s the latest blow for the beleagured qualifications.

Last May, education secretary Damian Hinds overruled concerns raised by the DfE’s permanent secretary about the time scale for implementing new qualifications. In July, skills minister Anne Milton said that, as a parent, she would advise her children to hold off on the flagship qualifications.