Director Shareholding

Pearson PLC
12 October 2000


                       DEALINGS BY DIRECTORS


1)  NAME OF COMPANY

    PEARSON PLC

2)  NAME OF DIRECTOR

    DAVID CHARLES MAURICE BELL

3)  Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of
    holding of the shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a
    non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder
    if it is a holding of that person's spouse or children under the
    age of 18 or in respect of an non-beneficial interest

    IN RESPECT OF DIRECTOR'S OWN HOLDING

4)  Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the
    number of shares held by each of them. (If notified)

    AS ABOVE (2)

5)  Please state whether notification relates to a person(s) connected
    with the Director named in 2 above and identify the connected person(s)

    NO

6)  Please state the nature of the transaction. For PEP transactions
    please indicate whether general/single co PEP and if discretionary/non
    discretionary

    RIGHTS ISSUE TAKE UP ON PEP

7)  Number of shares/amount of
    stock acquired

    481

8)   (0.00006%)
    of issued Class


9)  Number of shares/amount
    of stock disposed

    N/A

10)  (N/A %)
    of issued Class


11) Class of security

    ORDINARY SHARES OF 25P EACH

12) Price per share

    1000.P

13) Date of transaction

    N/A

14) Date company informed

    N/A

15) Total holding following this notification

    43,942

16) Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

    0.006%

     IF A DIRECTOR HAS BEEN GRANTED OPTIONS BY THE COMPANY PLEASE
                    COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING BOXES

17) Date of grant



18) Period during which or date on which exercisable



19) Total amount paid (if any) for grant of the option



20) Description of shares or debentures involved: class, number.



21) Exercise price (if fixed at time of grant) or indication that price
    is to be fixed at time of exercise



22) Total number of shares or debentures over which options held
    following this notification



23) Any additional information



24) Name of contact and telephone number for queries

    JENNIFER MURPHY    020 7411 2256

25) Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for
    making this notification

   Date of Notification       12TH OCTOBER 2000