Troy suffered at school. He felt detached from the other students, "neither White enough to fit in with the White kids or Black enough to fit in with the Black kids".

After he left school, he turned his life around. Troy Deeney became a professional footballer and passed his exams. In 2020, he was one of the first British players to take the kneeThe practice, a statement against racism, began in the US with American footballer Colin Kaepernick. to protest inequality. Yet two years on, he still receives racist abuse on social media. 

Deeney is campaigning for change. On Tuesday, the striker launched a petition calling for the teaching of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) history and experiences to be made mandatory in British schools. 

"I believe the current system is failing children from ethnic minorities," Deeney wrote in an open letter to UK education secretary Nadhim Zahawi. 

"My mum always says to me, 'You can't understand where you're going if you don't understand where you've come from.' This is an issue I don't want repeated for my own children."

There were few lessons about Black history at Deeney's school in Birmingham. "There was no one I heard about in lessons who made me think I could be successful."

Schools in England can choose which topics to teach in lessons.

According to a poll commissioned by Deeney, only 12% of British teachers feel "empowered" to teach topics such as colonialism, migration and identity. Moreover, 54% of teachers believe the national curriculum has a racial bias. Among ethnic minority teachers, this figure rises to 93%. 

Deeney is not the only one calling for change. David Olusoga, a leading historian and patron of The Black CurriculumAn initiative campaigning to make Black history a compulsory part of UK education.  , believes schools must teach the "uncomfortable" parts of British history. "We keep editing out the stories when British power and Black stories collided." 

Not everyone agrees that the curriculum needs changing. In 2020, the UK government rejected calls from a group of politicians for a review to add more BAME history to the curriculum.

Some say it would be impossible for teachers to address the cultural history of every pupil in every classroom. 

Others go further, saying changes to the curriculum could be political. The British government issued new guidance on impartiality in schools, warning teachers not to advocateTo publicly recommend or support a particular cause.  for campaign groups such as Black Lives Matter. 

Yes: Making BAME experiences mandatory teaching would inspire ethnic minority pupils and dispel harmful stereotypes. WalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is part of the island of Great Britain.  has already made the change. Now the rest of the UK must follow.

No: It is impossible to teach everything. Teachers already have the option to include lessons on BAME figures, but they should not be forced to do so. Changing the curriculum would be divisive.

Or... The vast majority of teachers are unprepared to teach topics such as colonialism and identity. Schools need more resources and guidance on BAME topics. The government could help to provide them.

Take the knee - The practice, a statement against racism, began in the US with American footballer Colin Kaepernick.

The Black Curriculum - An initiative campaigning to make Black history a compulsory part of UK education.  

Advocate - To publicly recommend or support a particular cause. 

Wales - Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is part of the island of Great Britain.