<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001654954-21-000639.txt : 20210120
<SEC-HEADER>0001654954-21-000639.hdr.sgml : 20210120
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20210120061342
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001654954-21-000639
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	6-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20210120
FILED AS OF DATE:		20210120
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20210120

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PEARSON PLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000938323
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BOOKS: PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING AND PRINTING [2731]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			X0
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		6-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16055
		FILM NUMBER:		21537365

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		80 STRAND
		CITY:			LONDON ENGLAND
		STATE:			X0
		ZIP:			WC2R 0RL
		BUSINESS PHONE:		442070102000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		80 STRAND
		CITY:			LONDON ENGLAND
		STATE:			X0
		ZIP:			WC2R 0RL
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>6-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a2368m.htm
<DESCRIPTION>PEARSON JANUARY TRADING UPDATE
<TEXT>
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UNITED STATES<font style="font-family: Times New Roman">&#x2028;</font></font></div>
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<font style="font-family: Times New Roman">&#x2028;</font></font></div>
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Washington, D.C. 20549</font></div>
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FORM 6-K</font></div>
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REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER<font style="font-family: Times New Roman">&#x2028;</font></font></div>
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PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER<font style="font-family: Times New Roman">&#x2028;</font></font></div>
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THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">For the
month of January 2021</font></div>
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PEARSON plc</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)<font style="font-family: Times New Roman">&#x2028;</font></font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">N/A<font style="font-family: Times New Roman">&#x2028;</font></font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">(Translation
of registrant's name into English)<font style="font-family: Times New Roman">&#x2028;</font></font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
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80 Strand<font style="font-family: Times New Roman">&#x2028;</font></font></div>
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London, England WC2R 0RL</font></div>
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<font style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman">&#x2028;</font>44-20-7010-2000</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">(Address
of principal executive office)<font style="font-family: Times New Roman">&#x2028;</font></font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: center; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Indicate
by check mark whether the Registrant files or will file annual
reports</font></div>
<div style="text-align: center; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">under
cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:<font style="font-family: Times New Roman">&#x2028;</font></font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Form
20-F
X&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;
&#xA0;Form 40-F<font style="font-family: Times New Roman">&#x2028;</font></font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Indicate
by check mark whether the Registrant by furnishing the
information</font></div>
<div style="text-align: center; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">contained
in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to
the</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Commission
pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934<font style="font-family: Times New Roman">&#x2028;</font></font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Yes&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;
&#xA0;No X</font></div>
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</font></div>
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<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 24px">
Pearson January Trading Update (Unaudited)</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div>
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20 January 2021</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Pearson,
the world's leading learning company, is today providing an update
on full year 2020 trading. Full year results will be announced on
5<font style="font-size: 70%; vertical-align: top">th</font>&#xA0;March
2021.</font></div>
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<td colspan="2" style="vertical-align: top; width: 100%">
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&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
<font style="font-size: 13px">Sales and profit in line with
expectations for the full year despite additional impact of
COVID-19 in Q4.</font><font style="font-family: Times New Roman">&#xA0;</font></font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px;">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Key highlights for the 12 months:</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="display: table; margin-left: -8px;">
<div style="display: table-row;">
<div style="text-align: right; display: table-cell; width: 16px; padding-right: 8px;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px;">&#x25CF;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; display: table-cell; margin-left: 48px; text-indent: 24px;"><font id="tab2" style="letter-spacing: 12px; color: black"></font><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Group sales
declined by 10%&#xA0;and we expect to report adjusted operating
profit in the range of &#xA3;310m-&#xA3;315m at an average USD:GBP
exchange rate of 1.28; with portfolio changes, inflation and the
trading impact of COVID-19 partially offset
by<br></font><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px;">&#xA0; &#xA0;
&#xA0; &#xA0; <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">restructuring
savings.</font></font></div>
</div>
</div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="display: table;">
<div style="display: table-row;">
<div style="text-align: right; display: table-cell; width: 4px; padding-right: 8px;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px;">&#x25CF;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; display: table-cell; margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 24px;"><font id="tab2" style="letter-spacing: 12px; color: black"></font><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">The challenging
impact of COVID-19 has been felt most acutely across International
and Global Assessment due to test centre and school closures, exam
cancellations, reduced global mobility and international economic
pressure on spending. It<br>
&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0; &#xA0; <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">has accelerated
demand for digital learning and performance in Global Online
Learning has been strong. US Higher Education Courseware has
performed in line with expectations, despite
COVID-19.</font></font></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="display: table;">
<div style="display: table-row;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px;">&#xA0;</font></div>
</div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="display: table;">
<div style="display: table-row;">
<div style="text-align: right; display: table-cell; width: 4px; padding-right: 8px;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px;">&#x25CF;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; display: table-cell; margin-left: 48px; text-indent: 24px;"><font id="tab2" style="letter-spacing: 12px; color: black"></font><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Global Online
Learning sales grew 18% due to strong enrolments in new and
existing schools in Virtual Schools and good sales growth in Online
Program Management (OPM), with growth in continuing programs
partially offset by discontinued<br>
&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0; <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">programs.</font></font></div>
</div>
</div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;<br></font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="display: table;">
<div style="display: table-row;">
<div style="text-align: right; display: table-cell; width: 4px; padding-right: 8px;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px;">&#x25CF;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; display: table-cell; margin-left: 48px; text-indent: 24px;"><font id="tab2" style="letter-spacing: 12px; color: black"></font><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Global Assessment
sales declined 14%, reflecting the impact of test centre closures
during the lockdowns in H1 in Professional Certification, with pent
up demand in the second half partly moderated by Q4 lockdowns.
Cancellation of Spring<br>
&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0; <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">testing impacted US
Student Assessment and school closures impacted US Clinical
Assessment.</font></font></div>
</div>
</div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="display: table;">
<div style="display: table-row;">
<div style="text-align: right; display: table-cell; width: 4px; padding-right: 8px;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px;">&#x25CF;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; display: table-cell; margin-left: 48px; text-indent: 24px;"><font id="tab2" style="letter-spacing: 12px; color: black"></font><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">North American
Courseware declined 13% with US Higher Education Courseware revenue
down 12%, with good growth in digital registrations and eBooks and
a further decline of higher priced package and print sales. At the
end of 2020, over<br>
&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0; &#xA0; <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">70% of US Higher
Education Courseware revenue was digital.</font></font></div>
</div>
</div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="display: table;">
<div style="display: table-row;">
<div style="text-align: right; display: table-cell; width: 4px; padding-right: 8px;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px;">&#x25CF;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; display: table-cell; margin-left: 48px; text-indent: 24px;"><font id="tab2" style="letter-spacing: 12px; color: black"></font><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">International
declined 19% due to school and test centre closures and the
continuing impact of COVID-19 on public and private spending on
courseware and assessments.&#xA0;</font></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 48px; text-indent: 24px"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px;">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="margin-left: 48px; text-indent: 24px"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px;">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Cost management</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="display: table;">
<div style="display: table-row;">
<div style="text-align: right; display: table-cell; width: 4px; padding-right: 8px;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px;">&#x25CF;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; display: table-cell; margin-left: 48px; text-indent: 24px;"><font id="tab2" style="letter-spacing: 12px; color: black"></font><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Pearson achieved
incremental in year benefits of &#xA3;60m associated with the
2017-2019 restructuring plan, and we remain on track to create the
further &#xA3;50m of cost efficiencies for full year
2021.</font></div>
</div>
</div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 36px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: -24px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 24px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: -24px;">
<font style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Strong
balance sheet</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="display: table;">
<div style="display: table-row;">
<div style="text-align: right; display: table-cell; width: 4px; padding-right: 8px;"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px;">&#x25CF;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; display: table-cell; margin-left: 48px; text-indent: 24px;"><font id="tab2" style="letter-spacing: 12px; color: black"></font><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Pearson retains
significant financial headroom with net debt of c.&#xA3;0.5bn and
immediately available liquidity of c.&#xA3;1.9bn through committed
facilities and cash balances.</font></div>
</div>
</div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
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<font style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td colspan="2" style="vertical-align: top; width: 100%; border-bottom: 2px solid #007fa3">
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-weight: bold; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Andy Bird, Chief Executive said:</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px"><font style="color: #333333">
"I</font><font style="color: #000000">&#xA0;am very proud of the
way that our employees across the world have come together - in an
incredibly challenging year - to support one another, our customers
and the broader communities in which we operate. My priority
remains keeping our employees and customers safe as global
lockdowns and tighter restrictions persist.</font></font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px;">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px"><font style="color: #333333">
"Despite&#xA0;</font><font style="color: #000000">facing
significant uncertainty, our teams have been laser-focused on
closing out 2020, enabling us to report sales and profit for 2020
in line with expectations.&#xA0;</font><font style="color: #333333">U</font><font style="color: #000000">ncertainty
remains in the near term as a result of the ongoing pandemic, with
further lockdowns, exam cancellations and reduced global mobility.
However, I am excited about our future given the shift to online
learning and the huge opportunity to help more people develop the
skills they need.</font></font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px;">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px"><font style="color: #333333">
"At the end of</font><font style="color: #000000">&#xA0;2020, we
made several key hires to accelerate our digital growth and,
looking ahead, we start the year with momentum, pace and
confidence. Our broader goal is to become a more consumer-focused
company, targeting the incredible opportunity that exists to have a
direct relationship with millions of lifelong learners. We look
forward to sharing more details at our Preliminary Results in
March."</font></font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
</td>
</tr></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #007FA3; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px">
Financial summary</font></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
<tr>
<td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 75%">
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Underlying
growth for 2020</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 25%">
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 75%">
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Sales</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 25%">
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 75%">
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Global
Online Learning</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 25%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">18%</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 75%">
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Global
Assessment</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 25%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">(14)%</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 75%">
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">North
American Courseware</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 25%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">(13)%</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 75%">
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">International</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 25%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">(19)%</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 75%">
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Total&#xA0;</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 25%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
(10)%</font></div>
</td>
</tr></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
<tr>
<td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 43%">
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Underlying
growth by quarter 2020</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 13%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Q1</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 13%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Q2</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 15%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Q3</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: bottom; width: 15%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Q4</font></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 43%">
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Sales</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 13%">
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 13%">
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 15%">
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 15%">
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 43%">
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Global
Online Learning</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 13%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">6%</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 13%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">3%</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 15%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">32%</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 15%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">30%</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 43%">
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Global
Assessment</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 13%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">(3)%</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 13%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">(45)%</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 15%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">(3)%</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 15%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">3%</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 43%">
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">North
American Courseware</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 13%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">(10)%</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 13%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">(18)%</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 15%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">(15)%</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 15%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">(8)%</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 43%">
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">International</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 13%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">(10)%</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 13%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">(31)%</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 15%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">(26)%</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 15%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">0%</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 43%">
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Total&#xA0;</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 13%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
(5)%</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 13%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
(28)%</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 15%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
(10)%</font></div>
</td>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 15%">
<div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
4%</font></div>
</td>
</tr></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
<tr>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 100%">
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #007FA3; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px">
Notes</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Throughout
this announcement: growth rates are stated on an underlying basis
unless otherwise stated. Underlying growth rates exclude both
currency movements and portfolio changes. Unless otherwise stated,
growth rates relate to the twelve-month period.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #007FA3; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px">
&#xA0;</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 100%">
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #007FA3; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px">
2020 trading update</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">In&#xA0;<font style="font-weight: bold">Global
Online Learning</font>, sales grew 18% for the full year. Virtual
Schools performed strongly driven by 43% enrolment growth in new
and existing schools for the 2020/2021 academic year. We opened
three new full-time, state-wide partner schools, and combined with
two contract exits this takes the total partner schools to
43.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">In OPM,
we saw good sales growth with a strong performance in undergraduate
and international, partially offset by discontinued programs. We
also saw the benefits of the operational changes made earlier this
year, with increased efficiencies in our student recruitment
process and student acquisition costs. Underlying course enrolments
(excluding discontinued programs) grew 20% and total course
enrolments declined 7%. We are delivering 470 programs across 34
partners globally.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">In&#xA0;<font style="font-weight: bold">Global
Assessment</font>, sales declined 14% for the full year. Sales
declined at Pearson VUE reflecting the impact of the test centre
closures in H1, partially offset by growth in IT and online
proctoring. Testing volumes for the full year were down 22% to
12.9m. Pent up demand in H2 was partially moderated by further
lockdowns in Q4 and continued social distancing, leading to
increased costs. Online Proctoring continued to see strong growth
with volumes growing significantly from 0.2m at the end of 2019 to
2.1m at the end of 2020. In School and Clinical Assessment,
performance was in line with expectations with further modest
impact of COVID-19 in H2.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">In&#xA0;<font style="font-weight: bold">North
American Courseware</font>, sales declined 13% for the full year.
In US Higher Education Courseware sales declined 12% with total
unit sales increasing slightly and digital registrations including
eBooks growing 9%. In Canada, courseware sales were down
significantly due to school and bookstore closures, with a strong
performance in Q4 as purchases shifted to digital.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Affordability
continues to play a major part in students'&#xA0;decision making
and the unbundling of premium priced print and digital products for
digital only formats continued. This reflects the rapidly changing
market dynamics of the industry with 2.2m textbooks sold into US
Higher Education colleges in 2020, compared with 3.7m in 2019.
Sales of standalone eBook units into colleges grew 33% to 3.7m
units, showing signs of secondary market recapture.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">There
has also been continued momentum in Inclusive Access with sales to
not-for-profit institutions up 29% on last year representing 13% of
US Higher Education Courseware revenue.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">In&#xA0;<font style="font-weight: bold">International</font>,
sales were down 19% at the full year due to the interruption of
Australian immigration and test centre closures impacting PTE with
volumes down 36% compared to 2019, as well as the impact of
COVID-19 on courseware purchasing.</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">For
School &amp; HE Courseware, budget constraints and school closures
have led to fewer purchases. South Africa school courseware sales
were down slightly, with purchases pushed later into Q4 compared to
Q3 2019. In the UK, qualifications revenue was impacted, as
expected, by the cancellation of exams in 2020, as well as the end
of the NCT contract. In our franchise business in Brazil and across
courseware, we have seen market contraction as a result of the
pandemic.</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 100%">
<div><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">&#xA0;</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td style="vertical-align: top; width: 100%">
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
<font style="color: #007FA3; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px">
Simplification</font></div>
<div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">On 1
April 2020, Pearson completed the sale of its remaining 25% in
Penguin Random House for &#xA3;531m to Bertelsmann SE &amp; Co
KGaA.</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px"><font style="font-size: 13px">
In relation to the disposal of US K12 Courseware in 2019, Pearson
sold its 20% variable Earn-Out right for $57m during
2020.</font><font style="font-family: Times New Roman">&#xA0;</font></font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">On 9
November 2020, Pearson announced the disposal of its interest in
Pearson Institute of Higher Education (PIHE) in South Africa to a
consortium of Stellenbosch Graduate Institute (SGI) and EXEO
Capital, which is expected to close in H1 2021.</font></div>
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Investor Relations</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Charles
Pretzlik, Nick Cosgrove, Simone Selzer</font></div>
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Forward looking statements:</font>&#xA0;Except for the historical
information contained herein, the matters discussed in this
statement include forward-looking statements. In particular, all
statements that express forecasts, expectations and projections
with respect to future matters, including trends in results of
operations, margins, growth rates, overall market trends, the
impact of interest or exchange rates, the availability of
financing, anticipated cost savings and synergies and the execution
of Pearson's strategy, are forward-looking statements. By their
nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties
because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will
occur in future. They are based on numerous assumptions regarding
Pearson's present and future business strategies and the
environment in which it will operate in the future. There are a
number of factors which could cause actual results and developments
to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these
forward-looking statements, including a number of factors outside
Pearson's control. These include international, national and local
conditions, as well as competition. They also include other risks
detailed from time to time in Pearson's publicly-filed documents
and you are advised to read, in particular, the risk factors set
out in Pearson's latest annual report and accounts, which can be
found on its website (www.pearson.com/corporate/investors.html).
Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are
made, and Pearson gives no undertaking to update forward-looking
statements to reflect any changes in its expectations with regard
thereto or any changes to events, conditions or circumstances on
which any such statement is based. Readers are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on such forward-looking
statements.</font></div>
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<font style="font-weight: bold; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
SIGNATURE</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.<font style="font-family: Times New Roman">&#x2028;</font></font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">PEARSON
plc</font></div>
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</td>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px"><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">
Date:&#xA0;</font><font style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">20
January 2021</font></font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">By: /s/
NATALIE WHITE</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">------------------------------------</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Natalie
White</font></div>
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<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 13px">Deputy
Company Secretary</font></div>
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