Manchester United player Marcus Rashford's social media is to be added to GCSE media media lessons as part of an AQA 'shake up'.

The footballer's social media use will be studied in classrooms for the first time following his influential school meals campaign during the pandemic.

Students will also look at his stance on various social issues including when he used his platform to speak out against racism in sport.

In May, he highlighted the disgusting racist messages he had received on social media following Manchester United’s Europa League final loss.

Rashford continued his fight in July when he apologised for missing a penalty in Euros 2020 final against Italy.

However, he continued by saying that he would “never apologise” for who he is.

The England player, 23, was awarded an MBE in the delayed 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours List after he provoked a series of govenrment U-turns by convincing the govenrment to provide free school meals to vulnerable children in England during school holidays.

By launching his free school meals campaign, which Rashford received himself, he raised £20 million in donations from supermarkets for groups tackling child poverty.

The 23-year old also became the youngest person to top the Sunday Times Giving List.

Talking about the shake up, Sandra Allan, AQA’s head of curriculum for creative arts, said:"Marcus Rashford is one of the most influential and inspirational young people in the UK, so students can learn a huge amount from how he uses social media to make a real impact."

The course will explore how Rashford has successfully used social media to promote his campaigns on child food poverty, as well as ensuring all pupils have access to books.

The new move will hopefully encourage pupils to see his use of social media as a way of influencing, but it will also enable them to learn about the social and race issues he raises.

The AQA shake up is part of the exam board’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion which will bring in an expert group to consider and improve representation in the curriculum and assessment.

Other additions to the course include Black Widow from the Marvel Universe, the Kiss Radio Breakfast Show, Heat magazine and the TV series His Dark Materials based on the novels by Sir Philip Pullman.

Sandra Allan, AQA’s head of curriculum for creative arts, continued: “I’m really excited by the changes we’ve made – they’re engaging and relevant and will inspire and motivate.

“Marcus Rashford is one of the most influential and inspirational young people in the UK, so students can learn a huge amount from how he uses social media to make a real impact.

“It’s not just an opportunity for them to learn about social media – it’s also a great way to learn about important social and race issues as part of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in the curriculum.”

She added: “There has never been a better time to become a media studies student.”