Leaving school to sit IAL privately — good idea or not? (UAE student, Germany uni goal) please read it

Hey everyone, I'm a student in the UAE and I'd really appreciate some advice on a big decision I'm facing.

Background: My A-level exams got cancelled due to the war, so since April I've shifted from AS to full A-level self-study. I take Maths, Physics, and Chemistry. Here's where I am right now:

• Maths: Pure 3 and Pure 4 done, 2 chapters into S1
• Physics: U4 and U5 done, starting past papers
• Chemistry: U4 done and in past paper mode, U5 mostly done — organic and transition metals still giving me trouble

My plan is to sit all units at the October 2026 sitting as a private candidate at the British Council.

The decision I'm struggling with:

My goal is to study mechanical engineering in Germany. To do that I need to learn German first, which realistically takes about a year at a language school there.

If I go back to school for Year 13, I'll be sitting through classes covering content I've already self-studied, dealing with strict attendance rules that will clash with my October exams, and not graduating until mid-2027 — meaning I can't start uni until winter 2028 at the earliest.

If I leave school now and sit privately, I get my results in January, travel to Germany, do a language year, and potentially start uni October 2027 or April 2028 — saving a full year.

My questions:

1. Has anyone sat Edexcel IAL privately through the British Council? Any advice?
2. Do you think getting 3 A*s is realistic given my current progress and preparation?
3. Is leaving school for this worth it or am I missing something?

Any advice is appreciated. 🙏