UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


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                                    FORM 6-K

                        REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
                    PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER
                      THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                           For the month of December, 2002

                                  PEARSON plc
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                      N/A

                (Translation of registrant's name into English)

                                   80 Strand
                            London, England WC2R 0RL
                                44-20-7010-2000
                    (Address of principal executive office)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant  files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:




      Form 20-F X                                      Form 40-F

Indicate by check mark whether the  Registrant  by  furnishing  the  information
contained  in this  Form is  also  thereby  furnishing  the  information  to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934




       Yes                                              No X

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        This Report includes the following documents:

1. A press release from Pearson plc announcing Director Shareholding




17 December 2002


Dear Sirs,



Pearson today announces the following changes in directors' interests in Pearson
ordinary shares of 25p each ("shares").



The company made a grant of restricted shares to executive directors under the
Long Term Incentive Plan on 16 December 2002. This represents this year's grant
of long-term incentives to executive directors.



The following executive directors were granted restricted shares which will vest
on 28 June 2005: Marjorie Scardino (60,340 restricted shares); John Makinson
(34,480); David Bell (26,613); Peter Jovanovich (33,066) and Rona Fairhead
(26,613).



The grant included four additional tranches as follows:



                                   Restricted Shares (#)
Tranche                   (a)               (b)               (c)               (d)
Vesting price            GBP9              GBP11             GBP13             GBP18

                                                                  
M M Scardino            60,340            60,340            60,340            120,680
J C Makinson            34,480            34,480            34,480             68,960
D C M Bell              26,613            26,613            26,613             53,226
P Jovanovich            33,066            33,066            33,066             66,132
R Fairhead              26,613            26,613            26,613             53,226




The tranches shown in (a), (b), (c) and (d) will vest no earlier than 28 June
2005 subject to the Pearson share price reaching GBP9, GBP11, GBP13 and GBP18
respectively for a period of 20 consecutive business days  before 28 June 2009.



At the close of business on 16 December 2002, the Pearson share price was
GBP6.385.



Yours faithfully,

PEARSON plc







Julia Casson

Company Secretary




                                    SIGNATURE


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.

                                   PEARSON plc

Date: 17 December 2002

                             By:   /s/ STEPHEN JONES
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                                   Stephen Jones
                                   Deputy Secretary