Would you advise if I was to self teach M3, that I should read ahead for (at least some of) M2 before hand in that case? I understand there is a risk with self teaching, but I wouldn't be totally alone in it, I understand that one of the teachers at my college has experience teaching M3 and has helped those who have self taught it in the past.
I know Stats and Decision are easy modules, however I find them mind numbingly boring, and Mechanics modules are prefered by Cambridge. If I were to do M3, it would take my total modules up to 14, meaning my worst two modules would be going spare at the end of A2 Fmaths. So I have a margin for error, and as a result, theres nothing really for me to lose by doing M3.
Definitely glance over the topics mentioned in the syllabus of M3 for AQA, see if there's any links or reference to M2, your teachers should also be able to assist you on this. And if your teachers have had previous experience of self-learners that's even more encouraging.
My best guess would be there is at least some previous knowledge required from M2. Rectilinear motion and differential equations are probably the big 2, along with all the basic physics-y stuff (Hooke's law, work-energy principle, dynamics of a particle). But to an extent M3 is a separate module, so you can definitely self teach quite a bit without knowledge from M2. I'd advise to adhere to the "natural" or pre-set path made by the exam boards (i.e. M3 after M2) where it is possible to do so. But that is more for the sake of understanding and linking the work together. If I were in your position, I would skip over M2 quickly, then start looking at M3 in some depth. The people of most help to you for this would be your teachers though. Best of luck with it all
Oh this question was rather enjoyable. Although when I did this question (last summer) I was pretty susceptible to silly mistakes.
Can I ask what resources you use to self teach the maths modules you've done?
I have the PC version of the M3 textbook. I bought the M4 textbook and I have my brothers C3,C4 and M2 textbook. Everything else I google. I also have a really good book called Early Transcendentals which is really good.