THOUSANDS of children had their education disrupted on Tuesday when schools in Halesowen and Sandwell were hit by a one-day walkout.

NUT members took the industrial action in a row over school funding cuts.

In Dudley borough 11 schools were closed and 21 were only open to certain year groups and in Sandwell eight were shut and seven partially closed.

Halesowen’s Windsor High School and Sixth Form opened only for year 12 pupils after headteacher Stephen Lanckham ruled it would not be safe to open to all pupils.

The Earls and Leasowes high schools were also partially closed and Lapal Primary School was shut to all pupils.

The town’s Newfield Park and St Margaret’s at Hasbury CE primary schools were also partially closed.

In Sandwell, Oldbury Academy was closed, as were Blackheath Primary, Rounds Green Primary and Westminster Special School, Rowley Regis.

Dudley NUT said schools face major cuts due to the implementation of the government’s proposed National Funding Formula on top of losses due to cuts in education funding.

It claimed schools in Dudley alone face losing more than £10 million overall.

In a statement the union said: “That’s why NUT members are taking action to fight cuts in funding, defend national terms and conditions for teachers and secure a national negotiating framework. “