Director Shareholding

Pearson PLC
31 March 2004


31 March 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 today under the
Non-Executive Directors' Share Purchase Plan:-

Name of Director    No. of   Percentage   Price  Total Holding  Total Percentage
                    Shares    of Issued     per      Following         Following
                 Purchased        Stock   Share   Notification      Notification
Lord Burns             238    0.000030%    627p          3,371          0.00042%

Reuben Mark            309    0.000039%    627p         13,870          0.00173%

Vernon Sankey          238    0.000030%    627p          3,230          0.00040%

Gurvirendra Talwar     901    0.000112%    627p          5,247          0.00065%

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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