An Oxford headteacher has said this generation of pupils cannot be called ‘snowflakes anymore’ after achieving record GCSE grades, despite the disruption of the coronavirus pandemic.

Today, pupils across Oxfordshire collected their GCSE results which were submitted by teachers using mock grades, coursework, ongoing assessments and tests.

Marina Gardiner Legge, the headteacher at Oxford High School, said: “Nobody can call this generation snowflakes anymore.

“They are diamonds forged by hard work, determination and resilience and they are ready for whatever the world throws at them.”

Oxford High School has this year chosen not to focus on grades and statistics.

In a post on the school’s website, it said: “Whilst there is no doubt that their results continue the legacy of academic excellence at OHS, this year it is important to focus on more than just grades and statistics; it is a time to recognise a cohort of students who have truly gone beyond the curriculum and achieved under the most challenging of circumstances.

“We would also like to take this opportunity to praise each and every one of our students on their tenacity and resilience in overcoming the obstacles of the last 18 months; with isolation and loneliness going hand-in-hand with the pandemic, it has not been a straightforward journey for most.

“Add to this the personal challenges some of our students have faced, from incidents of bereavement to cases of illness and family economic trials, and their results are all the more impressive.

On studying during the pandemic Ms Gardiner Legge said: “The age of year 10 and 11 it is very much about the support of your peer group and certainly here at Oxford High it is all about making sure there are really strong connections between students.

“For example, we use Google Meet so students were able to call up each other even during lockdown and make sure they have that real security.

“Oxford High is also a place where students are not shy about coming forward, its one of the things I love about the school. When they were really worried about one aspect of the exam series they wrote to me and I had a Google Meet with the whole year group.

“It is teaching them that if you are worried about something you bring it up, raise the question and we talk about it.”

Ms Gardiner Legge did note that the school’s GCSE pupils ‘definitely needed more support’ during the pandemic but the school ‘responded to that’.

Ms Gardiner Legge also wanted to pay tribute to the ‘extraordinary’ adaptability of all schools for making these grades happen despite a tough year.

She added: “Thank you to all the parents, pupils, families and staff who supported these students to get the grades they have so worked for.”

This year the proportion of GCSE entries awarded top grades has surged to an all-time high after exams were cancelled for the second year in a row due to Covid-19.

28.9% of UK GCSE entries were awarded one of the top grades this year, up by 2.7 percentage points on last year when 26.2% achieved the top grades.