Selective programmes

Every route runs backwards from a date.

Give a child’s age and a destination. The map shows the rungs between the two — what is still ahead, what has already gone, and where the preparation exists.

This map is a suggestion, not a schedule. It shows one sensible way to build practice and proficiency toward a destination — every child prepares differently, and reaching a rung is never a guarantee of a place.

Year 7 · admissions gate
17rungs still ahead

Admissions gate · Cambridge arts, humanities and social sciences

Cambridge college at-interview assessments

The next thing is the Argument Year. It runs for one academic year from August and prepares the transition the route ahead assumes — six of the destinations on this map begin with it.

The whole route is ahead. Cambridge college at-interview assessments asks for 18 rungs between Year 7 and Year 13, and none has passed.

Troupe teaches 4 of them today; the rest are still in build.


The line

Ahead of youPriming yearNot yet taughtAlready behindInterchangeDestination
THE PUPIL, NOWY711ESU Schools' Mace —Round 1Nov 2026 · registration 93Y812UK LinguisticsOlympiad —Breakthrough2026-27 cycle · date TBCARLT ReadingCompetitionDeadline late Feb · 2027Y913Anthea Bell Prizefor YoungTranslatorsCompetition 2 Feb–27 Mar2InternationalCompetition forYoung DebatersRegionals spring 2027 ·4Y1014HA Great DebateHeats Nov 2026–Jan 2027 ·3UK LinguisticsOlympiad —Foundation2026-27 cycle · date TBCY1115The Argument YearOne academic year · from6UK LinguisticsOlympiad —Intermediate2026-27 cycle · date TBCOrwell Youth Prize —JuniorTheme announced autumn4Y1216Trinity CollegeCambridge subjectessay prizesDeadline 31 Jul 20272Fitzwilliam Collegeessay competitionsDeadline late Feb 20272Woolf Essay Prize,Newnham CollegeDeadline 8 Jun 2027Cambridge SchoolsDebatingRegistration closes late2Y1317Ask the college whatit setsSep–Oct 20262Pre-interviewwritten assessmentsNov 2026 · exact dates TBCUK LinguisticsOlympiad Round 1 —Advanced3–7 Nov 2026At-interviewassessmentsDec 2026 · date set by the

ESU Schools' Mace — Round 1

Y7 · Holding a position

Nov 2026 · registration 9 Jun–16 Sep 2026

What it asks forStates a view, gives a reason, and does not treat disagreement as an attack.
PreparationNot yet offered
Interchange · this rung also serves 2 destinations