A CABINET minister today appeared to backtrack on the June 1 target date to reopen schools following a rebellion by at least 18 councils. 

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland admitted that he did not know if schools would be able to open on June 1, the government’s target date to send more children back to classrooms.

The admission comes as 18 councils, representing 1,500 schools, announced that they will refuse to ask schools to reopen year-one and year-six classrooms next month.