Gavin Williamson has committed to cover the cost of appealing A-level grades after exam results day descended into chaos.
And the Mirror understands the Education Secretary has set up a 'task force' in a last-ditch bid to ensure appeals are complete before university deadlines.
England's exam regulator said it was forced to mark down thousands of results owing to "implausibly high" predictions submitted by teachers.
Schools assessed grades for pupils after exams were scrapped amid the coronavirus pandemic.
A-level results day descended in chaos as 39.1% of teachers' estimates were adjusted down by one grade or more through an algorithm.
According to regulator Ofqual's analysis, pupils and schools in disadvantaged areas were marked down the most harshly by the statistical model used to replace exams.
It's understood the Department for Education (DFE) has committed to paying for any failed appeals, to ensure no school is left out of pocket.
Grade appeals are free if they are successful, but can cost the school either £120 or £150 per grade if they are unsuccessful.
It's understood DFE doesn't want any school to be put off by the issue of cost.
Meanwhile, Mr Williamson has asked Schools Minister Nick Gibb to oversee a task force, working with Ofqual and the exam boards to ensure appeals go through smoothly and before university admission deadlines.
The Ucas deadline for applicants to meet their academic offer conditions is September 7, which leaves exam boards less than four weeks to issue outcomes of appeals.
It comes after both Oxford and Cambridge Universities said some applicants who successfully challenged their results would have to defer their places until 2021 if they reach full capacity.
Oxford said it would not be possible to meet "ongoing social-distancing restrictions" and other challenges presented by Covid-19 if it went above its maximum intake of students.
A University of Oxford spokesman said: "We intend to take every student who meets their offer grades as well as those where we consider there are mitigating circumstances for them missing their grade.
"As we do every year when grades are re-marked, some students may be offered a deferred place.
"Once we reach our maximum intake of undergraduates in 2020, we will have to defer entry to 2021 for any additional candidates who appeal successfully and whose place is then confirmed."
He added: "Our primary concern must be the health and safety of our students, staff and community and it will not otherwise be possible for us to meet ongoing social-distancing restrictions and other challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic."
