Hundreds of people in Swindon have signed a petition calling for Britain’s colonial history to become part of the school curriculum.

A campaign group of sixth form students say the Government is denying their generation the tools to “dismantle systemic racism” by not mandating teaching about the Empire in schools.

As of 9am on Thursday, 515 people in Swindon’s two constituencies had signed a petition calling for MPs to change the curriculum – among more than 20,000 from across the South West.

The petition on Parliament’s website, created by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson, has amassed 234,000 signatures in its first week, meaning it will be considered for a debate in Westminster. It wants to create a “far more inclusive curriculum” by making education compulsory on topics such as Britain’s role in colonisation and the transatlantic slave trade.

It reads: “By educating on the events of the past, we can forge a better future.

“Colonial powers must own up to their pasts by raising awareness of the forced labour of black people, past and present mistreatment of BAME people, and most importantly, how this contributes to the unfair systems of power at the foundation of our modern society.”