A NUMBER of schools in London have been forced to close for the day after teachers started a 24-hour strike as part of a row over funding.

Members of the National Union of Teachers voted in favour of a walk-out over school budgets, which they feel the government are not "keeping up to pace" with rising costs.

Representatives from the London branch of the union said schools across the capital will either be closed completely or partially shut.

A statement on the NUT's website said: "The government's new Education for All Bill continues to show they have the wrong priorities for teachers, schools and children.

"As more schools become academies, the coverage of the national STPCD and Burgundy Book will narrow and these protections will gradually wither away.

"Real term cuts in funding will have major effects on schools and teachers, whether academy or maintained.

"This will further erode terms and conditions, increase workload and impede pay progression for teachers."

Education secretary Nicky Morgan called the industrial action "disappointing" and would "harm children's education".

In an interview with the BBC, she said: "Spending on education is the highest it has ever been this year at £40 billion.

"It has gone up £4 billion since 2011-12."