Director Shareholding

Pearson PLC
05 January 2004



5 January 2004

RNS
The London Stock Exchange
Old Broad Street
London
EC2N 1HP


Dear Sirs

Non-Executive Directors' Share Purchase Plan

Below are details of purchases of ordinary shares made on 31 December 2003 under
the Non-Executive Directors' Share Purchase Plan:-

Name of     No. of      Percentage   Price    Total Holding    Total Percentage
Director    Shares      of Issued    per      Following        Following
            Purchased   Stock        Share    Notification     Notification

Lord              238     0.000030%  625.78p           3,043           0.00038%
Burns

Reuben            309     0.000039%  625.78p          13,561           0.00169%
Mark

Vernon            238     0.000030%  625.78p           2,992           0.00037%
Sankey
Gurvirendra

Talwar            966     0.000120%  625.78p          12,268           0.00153%

If there are any questions in connection with this matter, please do not
hesitate to contact me.

Yours faithfully

Stephen Jones

Deputy Secretary

SAJ/DC


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