Teenage singer Charlotte Church has announced she is leaving school to concentrate on her career after passing her GCSEs.

The 16-year-old international star received confirmation of her three A* grades, including music, and four A grades on Thursday.

Music was the exam she was most worried about as none of her tutors on the road taught that subject

Maria Church

But she plans to return to studying to take A-levels in two years' time, and then wants to study psychology at university - possibly in America.

Church, who attends the private Howell's School in Llandaff, Cardiff, admitted she had been "really nervous" before getting the results, but was "absolutely delighted to have passed".

The star, currently filming her debut movie The Family Business, thanked her teachers and private tutors, as well as her fellow pupils and friends after getting the grades.

She scored A* grades in music, French and history and A grades in geography, maths, English language and English literature.

Her geography and English literature marks came despite having to sit two exams early in the morning while on an American trip to perform at a concert to commemorate victims of the 11 September terrorist attacks.

Hard work

Charlotte's mother Maria, 37, was "over the moon" with the grades.

"Music was the exam she was most worried about as none of her tutors on the road taught that subject," she said.

Church hopes to study in America

Mrs Church, from Coryton, Cardiff, revealed her daughter had worked very hard over the past six months.

"Charlotte has a huge appetite for learning and has always wanted to go to university.

"She is thinking about studying for a degree in psychology, maybe in America, but at the moment we're just celebrating."

Head teacher Jane Fitz was also delighted by Church's results.

"Charlotte has done very well," she said.

"To achieve the results she did on top of all her other achievements is miraculous.

"She has worked very hard and we are delighted for her."

Other pupils at the school were also celebrating, as 29 of the 83 GCSE pupils got either all As or A*s.