It matters who as well as that.

OU are accredited by Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, Institute of Physics and Royal Statistical Society for example (I am a member of two of these).

But if you self study using the OU books, you yourself will not be accredited.

You have to give them ~£23k for that honour.

Did that a number of years back. Was worth it.

Worth it in the personal sense, or career-wise? I'd love to do a maths degree, but being mid-40s with family, mortgage, career etc makes it hard to see myself doing it for real.

I finished it when I was 47 and have a full time job, 3 kids and a care responsibility for a sick parent. Planning is the word :)

Paying that money was worth it? Why not just self-study then?

The fact that you did the whole journey with that amount of responsibilities is impressive!

Correct but you know the material is good.