More students go to university from Redbridge than anywhere else in England, new Department of Education statistics show.

The borough came top of the table of state schools, with 72 per cent of students taking A Levels in 2008/09 going on to higher education.

In neighbouring Barking and Dagenham the figure was 57 per cent, and the national average was 52 per cent.

Redbridge also had the top school in the country, as Ilford County High School had the biggest proportion of students going on to university.

The boys’ grammar school in Barkingside saw 88 per cent of its students going to university.

Out of those, five percent went to Oxford or Cambridge, and 33 per cent to the UK’s top Russell Group institutions.

Head of sixth form Colin Jenkins said the key to success was preparation and planning.

He added: “It permeates all the way through the school, it’s not just something we suddenly pick up at sixth form.

“The boys in our school have great aspirations to go to university and we haven’t noticed a change since the fees went up.”

Ilford County High students are advised what A Levels to take and guided through the application process.

Mr Jenkins added: “I’m very pleased. I knew our boys did very well and a lot of them go on to university but I wasn’t aware we are the top in the country.”

Cllr Alan Weinberg, cabinet member for children’s services, said the news was a “fantastic achievement” by young people.

He added: “This borough’s schools have an excellent track record when it comes to exam results and our students outperform many of their counterparts year on year.

“It is a testament to the aspirations of our young people, their parents and our teachers that so many of them are able to secure higher education places and move into to further education and training.”