Greenhead College student Taye recently travelled to Lisbon, Portugal, to represent Calderdale Explorers at an international basketball tournament held from 26 to 29 June 2026. 

The prestigious tournament brought together league champion clubs from around the world, with 24 teams competing in the Under-18 age group. It provided an exciting opportunity for young players to test themselves against high-quality international opposition while experiencing different cultures and making new connections. 

Taye, who plays for Calderdale Explorers in the West Yorkshire League, has been with the club for three seasons. During his final Under-16 season, the team enjoyed great success by earning promotion to the Conference League. 

This season, the Conference League provided a valuable new challenge despite a difficult campaign. Although the team won just two of their 16 league games, the experience has helped them develop and improve throughout the season. 

Reflecting on the tournament in Portugal, Taye said his favourite part was meeting people from different countries and learning about other cultures. 

The tournament also taught Taye valuable lessons about teamwork and communication. Calderdale Explorers introduced new players specifically for the tournament, meaning the squad had to adapt quickly in a highly competitive environment. 

The competition began with a group stage, where teams were placed into groups of three and played each other once. On the second day, teams progressed into finals or knockout matches, ensuring every team continued competing to determine their final tournament placing. 

Although the basketball season finished in March, Calderdale Explorers will continue training throughout the summer and play several friendly matches before the new season begins in October. 

Everyone at Greenhead congratulates Taye on representing both his club and the College on the international stage and wishes him every success for the upcoming basketball season. 

We are delighted to celebrate the success of two of our students, Sotonye and Nethi, who have each been awarded the Reading List Foundation Scholarship. 

The Reading List Foundation Scholarship is designed to support high-achieving students by helping to cover the costs of essential university reading materials. 

Both students were nominated by their Tutors in recognition of their commitment to their studies, their contributions to College life, and their outstanding resilience. 

We are equally proud of the comprehensive support provided by staff across Greenhead, particularly the dedication of our Tutor team, who play a vital role in supporting and championing student success. 

Both recipients will receive a £275 Blackwell’s bookshop voucher, which will support their transition to university by helping to fund their first-year reading lists. 

Pictured here is Sotonye, an A2 student studying Business, Economics, Mathematics, and Further Mathematics, who has shown exceptional academic dedication. She plans to use her voucher to invest in essential materials as she progresses to the next stage of her education. 

Congratulations once again to Sotonye and Nethi on this well-deserved achievement and thank you to all staff who took the time to submit such thoughtful and inspiring nominations. 

Greenhead College student Maiya is making remarkable strides in the world of fencing, successfully balancing her academic studies with a rapidly developing international sporting career.

Maiya began fencing at the age of 11 after being inspired by her best friend in primary school. Although she also trained in ballet during her early years, it quickly became clear that her talent lay in fencing, where she has continued to excel ever since.

Now studying A Levels in Modern History, Economics and Psychology at Greenhead, Maiya demonstrates an impressive ability to balance demanding academic work with elite-level sport.

Alongside her studies, she is also working towards a DiSE (Diploma in Sporting Excellence) qualification, a prestigious two-year programme running from July 2025 to July 2027. This qualification is designed to support talented young athletes in combining full-time education with high-performance training and is equivalent to 64 UCAS points, providing a strong foundation for university applications.

Maiya has been representing Great Britain since 2023 at both Under-17 and Under-20 levels. Her international experience continues to grow, having competed in the FIE (International Fencing Federation) Satellite competition in Ghent in September 2025 – her first senior-level event.

Despite not placing, Maiya described the experience as:

“The FIE Satellite competition was both hard and intense, but I learnt so much from the experience.”

Maiya went on to compete in the British Youth Championships, where she secured third place, before taking part in the Junior World Cups in Hammamet, Tunisia, and Budapest, Hungary, in November and December 2025 respectively, gaining valuable exposure to top‑level international competition.

Her commitment to the sport is clear through her training schedule. Maiya trains three times a week, travelling to South Manchester for two-hour sessions each time, alongside twice-monthly training sessions in London. In addition, she attends monthly sports psychology sessions, which she credits with helping her manage nerves and maintain composure during competition.

Maiya is also part of the University of Nottingham GBR Athlete Development programme, which offers high-performance training opportunities and supports her progression within the national fencing pathway.

As well as individual competition, Maiya thrives in team fencing events. Competing in teams of three or four, athletes fence in rotation up to a total of 45 points, switching every five points. She particularly enjoys the intensity and camaraderie of this format and has even taken on a leadership role as a team captain, further developing her confidence and communication skills.

Through fencing, Maiya has formed strong friendships with teammates across the country and internationally. She describes the social aspect of competitions – especially team dinners after events – as one of her favourite parts of the sport, helping to build lasting bonds.

Looking to the future, Maiya is determined to continue her journey with Team GB after College. She is currently considering two exciting pathways: competing in NCAA Division 1 fencing in the United States, having already been scouted, or continuing her studies and training at a UK or London-based university.

With a clear sense of ambition, Maiya has set her sights firmly on the Olympic Games, with the goal of competing at the 2032 Olympics.

Everyone at Greenhead wishes Maiya continued success as she pursues her dreams on the international stage.