Mr J Christensen

Department: History

Mr Christensen was born in Ballarat (a Koorie word which means ‘meeting place’) in Victoria, Australia. It is famous for two reasons, the first being something of a Mecca for gold prospectors in the 1850’s, and the second a notoriety for being the site of the notorious Eureka Stockade rebellion of the same decade.

He completed an Arts degree at university, majoring in English and Art History. As an undergraduate, Mr Christensen keenly pursued his other love, film, as a hobby, and then took a year out to work as a free-lance script writer for community arts groups.

He trained also as a librarian with a view to working as a subject specialist in university libraries, but discovered there that he found more satisfaction helping students, and felt called to teaching.

Mr Christensen came to England in 1995 and fell in love with the place for its rich history and natural beauty. He returned several times after that, finally moving permanently to England in Autumn 2000.

He has held teaching jobs in the private and public sector since then, and feels very fortunate to have found Kingsmead, where he began teaching in September 2006. Mr Christensen says that the place feels like a small country school in Australia where he began his teaching career where pupils develop friendships across age and year levels, and where there is a palpable sense of community, and everyone is valued and respected.

His hobbies include guitar-playing and exploring new places, and he retains a keen interest in film and drama, having directed several school productions over the years.