So now we know – or at least 7C does after their visit today – why the name Desenfans was chosen for one of the four Houses at JAGS, and what it has in common with Dulwich Picture Gallery. It’s named after Margaret Desenfans, the wife of Noel Desenfans, one of the original art collectors of the Gallery’s paintings exhibited today; and if it hadn’t been for her generosity as a benefactor, the Gallery might not have been built, and Dulwich could not claim to have England’s oldest public art gallery – the first of its kind. It is also thought that the Gallery is where the first art classes were taught to JAGS’ girls.

Sitting in the stone-chilled and softly-lit mausoleum within the gallery, 7C was enthralled by the story of how it came to be built and just a little bit spooked by the mystery coffin containing – who knows? Isabella confessed it made her feel all dark and sleepy; and Celine putting her hand up suddenly made Kabira and Jane jump!

But today was all about getting a first impression of the glorious paintings there, mostly old masters. Ingrid Beazley, Gallery Educator and Head of E-Learning, gave 7C the chance to absorb the fine detail of one painting – van Dyck’s ‘Samson and Delilah’. The revelation, finally, of what it was really all about, made them all gasp with surprise and delight. More next week and for all the other Year 7 classes in due course, with trips to the National Gallery and to Tate Britain coming up, part of the Civilisation programme in the first year at JAGS.