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
14rungs still ahead

Admissions gate · Social and political sciences

UCL Thinking Skills Test

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. UCL Thinking Skills Test asks for 15 rungs between Year 7 and Year 13, and none has passed.

Troupe teaches 3 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 93Y812Y913InternationalCompetition forYoung DebatersRegionals spring 2027 ·4UK Bebras Challenge— Intermediate9–20 Nov 20266Y1014ESU Public SpeakingCompetitionRegistration 16 Sep 2026 ·3Young Economist ofthe YearDeadline 29 Jun 2027 ·2Y1115The Argument YearOne academic year · from6John Locke GlobalEssay PrizeDeadline 31 May 2027 ·4UK Bebras Challenge— Seniors9–20 Nov 20266Y1216R.A. Butler PoliticsPrize, TrinityCollege CambridgeDeadline 31 Jul 2027IEA Budget ChallengeApplications close ~30 JanOxford Schools'DebatingRegionals Jan–Feb 2027 ·2Y1317Ask UCL what thetest isSep–Oct 2026TARABook 20 Jul–28 Sep 2026 ·3UK Bebras Challenge— Elite9–20 Nov 20265UCL Thinking SkillsTestDate TBC · set by UCL

ESU Schools' Mace — Round 1

Y7 · Finding the weak claim

Nov 2026 · registration 9 Jun–16 Sep 2026

What it asks forIdentifies the weakest claim in an argument they have just heard and says why it is weak.
PreparationNot yet offered
Interchange · this rung also serves 2 destinations