Annie Blackmore takes ‘time out’ after leaving Hackney University Technical College

Annie Blackmore pictured shortly after she was appointed Principal of Hackney University Technical College in 2012

Mystery surrounds the departure of the principal of Hackney University Technical College (Hackney UTC) following an Ofsted inspection report in February that concluded the school requires improvement in many areas.

Homerton resident Annie Blackmore was appointed Principal of the college when it opened in 2012, but in March this year the college said she was leaving to “pursue other professional interests.”

On Twitter Ms Blackmore now describes herself as a “long-time school leader taking some time out to think about future directions”.

The Citizen has asked Hackney UTC about the situation, but no one from the college has clarified the reason for Ms Blackmore’s departure.

The personal assistant to new Acting Principal Catharine Wensley could not be reached via telephone.

Ofsted’s report highlighted weaknesses including a “lack of detail” in teachers’ marking of students’ work and said achievement in some subjects, for example maths and history, was “not as high as it could be”.

Before becoming principal of Hackney UTC, which focuses on vocational skills like healthcare and computing, Ms Blackmore was Vice-principal at the nearby Bridge Academy.

For more education news see pages 28 and 29 of this month’s Hackney Citizen.

Related:

Silicon students start up at Hackney University Technical College