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 January 2003

                                  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



2 January 2003

Company Announcements Office
The London Stock Exchange
Old Broad Street
London
EC2N 1HP



Dear Sirs


Non-Executive Directors' Share Purchase Plan

Please find below details of purchases of ordinary shares made today under the
Non-Executive Directors' Share Purchase Plan:-





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

Lord Burns           260             0.000032%           571.5p         1,953            0.00024%

Reuben Mark          339             0.000042%           571.5p         12,176           0.00152%

Vernon Sankey        261             0.000033%           571.5p         1,927            0.00024%

Gurvirendra Talwar   1,074           0.000134%           571.5p         7,922            0.00099%




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



                                    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:  2 January 2003


                             By:   /s/ STEPHEN JONES
                            -----------------------
                                   Stephen Jones
                                   Deputy Secretary