Pearson plc

British multinational education publishing and assessment company providing educational content, digital learning platforms, and professional certifications globally.

Company Type

public

Founded

1844

Headquarters

London, United Kingdom

Stock

LSE: PSON

About Pearson plc

Pearson operates through three global lines of business: School, Higher Education, and Professional. The company provides educational content, digital learning platforms, assessments, and professional certifications.

Pearson serves millions of students, educators, and professionals globally through its brands and platforms. The company has been transitioning to digital-first strategies, with more than half of annual revenues coming from digital sales as of 2019.

History of Pearson plc

Pearson plc was founded in 1844 as S. Pearson & Son, initially operating as a construction and engineering company. Over the decades, the company diversified into various industries including publishing, media, and aviation.

In the 1960s-1990s, Pearson began acquiring educational publishing companies, including Longman (1968), Addison-Wesley (1988), and Prentice Hall (1998). These acquisitions established Pearson as a major force in educational publishing.

In 2003, Pearson acquired Edexcel, a UK provider of qualifications and assessments. In 2000, the company acquired Virtual University Enterprises and renamed it Pearson VUE, establishing a major presence in professional testing and certification.

Following the 2015 sale of Financial Times and The Economist, Pearson refocused entirely on education. In 2016, the company rebranded with a new logo featuring the interrobang (‽) to convey excitement, curiosity, and individuality in learning.

In 2019, Pearson sold its US K-12 courseware business to Nexus Capital Management, which rebranded it as Savvas Learning Company. The company has continued to evolve toward digital-first learning solutions.

In late 2025, Pearson VUE announced it would rebrand as Pearson, with its assessment segment identified as Pearson Professional Assessments.

Brands Owned by Pearson plc

Pearson plc owns 6 brands in our database.

Addison-Wesley

Owned by Pearson plc

Leading educational publisher specializing in STEM subjects, mathematics, science, and computer science textbooks for K-12 and higher education.

stem-educationmathematicsscience

Allyn & Bacon

Owned by Pearson plc

Educational publisher specializing in higher education textbooks for education, psychology, sociology, and social sciences.

higher-educationtextbookspsychology

Edexcel

Owned by Pearson plc

Leading UK provider of qualifications and assessments offering GCSEs, A Levels, International GCSEs, and BTecs for students aged 14-19.

qualificationsassessmentsuk-education

Pearson English

Owned by Pearson plc

Leading English language learning brand providing comprehensive courses and materials for learners of all ages and proficiency levels globally.

english-language-learninglanguage-coursesefl-esl

Prentice Hall

Owned by Pearson plc

Leading educational publishing brand providing textbooks and learning materials for K-12 and higher education across multiple subjects.

textbookseducational-publishingk-12

Scott Foresman

Owned by Pearson plc

Educational publisher providing K-12 textbooks and learning materials for reading, language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.

k-12-educationtextbooksreading

Stock Information

Pearson plc Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

+World's largest education publishing company with global reach
+Diverse portfolio serving K-12, higher education, and professional markets
+Strong position in digital learning and assessment technologies
+Established brands with decades of educational expertise
+Global distribution network and resources
+Commitment to digital transformation and innovation

Considerations

-Dependence on education market trends and government spending
-Competition from other major publishers and edtech companies
-Transition to digital-first model requires ongoing investment
-Regulatory compliance across multiple countries
-Economic sensitivity affecting education spending
-Challenges in maintaining relevance in rapidly evolving edtech landscape

Frequently Asked Questions About Pearson plc

Is Pearson plc publicly traded?

Yes, Pearson plc is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange (PSON) and New York Stock Exchange (PSO).

What does Pearson plc do?

Pearson is the world's largest education publishing and assessment company, providing textbooks, digital learning platforms, assessments, and professional certifications globally.

What brands does Pearson own?

Pearson owns numerous education brands including Edexcel, Prentice Hall, Longman, Addison-Wesley, Scott Foresman, Allyn & Bacon, and Pearson VUE, among others.

Where is Pearson plc headquartered?

Pearson plc is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations across over 180 countries worldwide.

What is Pearson's focus?

Following the 2015 sale of Financial Times and The Economist, Pearson refocused entirely on education, operating through School, Higher Education, and Professional business lines.

About Pearson plc

History of Pearson plc