More than a third of Kent's secondary schools sent no students to any of the UK's 24 top universities in 2010, according to government figures.

And no Kent school features among the country's most successful when it comes to students taking up degree courses at the UK's most competitive universities.

An analysis of data published for the first time by the Department for Education shows a mixed picture across the county.

Overall, fewer than half of all students go on to higher education.

A total of 41 secondary schools and colleges saw no students going on to any of the 24-strong Russell Group of universities - those considered the hardest to secure places at - after their A levels, while 68 sent no students to Oxford or Cambridge.

Kent's 33 grammar schools, not surprisingly, fare better when it comes to the numbers going to the elite universities.

Top of the pile was Tonbridge's The Judd School, where 37% of students went to Russell Group universities,followed by Tonbridge Grammar (33%) and then Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar (31%).

Fewer students went on to study at university in Kent - 46% - than the national average of 48%.

But Kent was in line with the national average for students studying at those in the Russell Group - 16%.

It was also slightly above the national average for those going to the the top third of all universities, at 16% compared to 14%.

Of the 9,840 students in schools and colleges, about three quarters ended up either continuing in education, finding work or some other training.

A former vice chancellor the University of Kent said the figures raisedquestions about whether Kent's selective system was as effective as it should be.

Prof David Melville said he felt some grammar schools were complacent about their performance.

"I believe they are complacent. I have always felt that grammar schoolswere under-performing but I did not expect to see them quite so far down.

"They should be comparing themselves with the best and whether they are bringing out the best in young people."

County education chiefs say Kent performed well when compared with similar authorities and said some students opted for universities closer to home because of costs.

Cllr Roger Gough (Con), education cabinet minister, said: "I think the impact of costs and people choosing to stay closer to home probably has some impact. We are trying to offer a broad range of choices and a Russell Group university is not going to be the choice for everyone.

"Having said that, clearly it would be good to see a higher take up and it will be worth examining."

He added: "There is a mixed picture for our grammars - some perform extremely well. There is plenty to be pleased about but we are ambitious and this is something we will look at more and more."

Schools minister David Laws said: "These statistics demonstrate the gulf between the schools and colleges which deliver for their students - and those which do not.
But all schools and colleges must ensure they deliver for all their students - whatever that student's target."

Kent fares worse than five other selective education authorities when it comes to the numbers going to top universities: Reading, Buckinghamshire, Sutton, Wirral and Trafford all out-perform the county.

As a region, the number of students in the south east going on to higher
education - 43% - is lower than London (53%); the North East (51%); the
West Midlands (49%) and Yorkshire and Humber (49%).