<PAGE>

         As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 25, 2000
                                                    REGISTRATION NO. 333-_____

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                  -------------
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                  -------------

                                   PEARSON PLC
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)



             ENGLAND AND WALES                        NOT REQUIRED
             (State or other jurisdiction of          (I.R.S. Employer
             incorporation or organization)           Identification No.)


                                  -------------

                              3 BURLINGTON GARDENS
                             LONDON, ENGLAND W1X 1LE
                                 44-20-7411-2000
          (Address, including zip code, of Principal Executive Offices)


                                 --------------

                 PEARSON PLC 1988 EXECUTIVE SHARE OPTION SCHEME
          PEARSON PLC 1992 UNITED STATES EXECUTIVE SHARE OPTION SCHEME
                  THE PEARSON 1998 EXECUTIVE SHARE OPTION PLAN
                      THE PEARSON SPECIAL SHARE OPTION PLAN
                             THE PEARSON REWARD PLAN
                  PEARSON PLC ANNUAL BONUS SHARE MATCHING PLAN
                    PEARSON PLC EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                  THE PEARSON INC. SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLAN
            PEARSON INC. DISCRETIONARY STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR AUTHORS
         PEARSON PLC UNITED STATES SENIOR EXECUTIVE SHARE OPTION SCHEME
                            (Full Title of the Plan)
                                   -----------



                                   PEARSON INC.
                            1330 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
                             NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019
                                  (212) 641-2400

                      (Name, address, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

<PAGE>

                                   -----------





                                    COPY TO:


                                CHARLES E. ENGROS
                           MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP
                                 101 PARK AVENUE
                             NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10178
                                 (212) 309-6000
                               FAX: (212) 309-6273




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                          CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                    PROPOSED           PROPOSED
                                                                     MAXIMUM           MAXIMUM
           TITLE OF SECURITIES TO              AMOUNT TO BE         OFFERING          AGGREGATE        AMOUNT OF
               BE REGISTERED                   REGISTERED(1)     PRICE PER SHARE       OFFERING      REGISTRATION
                                                                                        PRICE           FEE (5)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                                             <C>              <C>                <C>                <C>
Company's Ordinary Shares, 25p per share        10,469,282       $24.83 (3)         $ 259,952,272      $ 68,627.40
                                                   880,010       $25.07 (4)         $  20,808,350.70   $  5,493.40
                                                34,250,000(2)    $25.07 (4)         $ 864,915,000      $228,337.56

TOTAL                                           45,599,292                                             $302,458.36

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

(1)American Depositary Shares which may be issued with respect to Ordinary
   Shares will be registered under a separate Registration Statement on Form
   F-6.

(2)The Ordinary Shares of 25p each being registered hereby will be granted by
   Pearson plc ("Pearson") to certain United States employees who are
   participants in The Pearson 1998 Executive Share Option Plan (15,000,000
   Ordinary Shares), The Pearson Special Share Option Plan (4,000,000
   Ordinary Shares), The Pearson Reward Plan (7,000,000 Ordinary Shares),
   Pearson plc Annual Bonus Share Matching Plan (250,000 Ordinary Shares),
   Pearson plc Employee Stock Purchase Plan (5,000,000 Ordinary Shares), The
   Pearson Inc. Savings and Investment Plan (3,000,000 Ordinary Shares) or
   Pearson Inc. Discretionary Stock Option Plan for Authors (250,000 Ordinary
   Shares) (collectively, the "Plans"). In addition to the 34,500,000
   Ordinary Shares indicated above, pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the
   Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), this
   Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate number of Ordinary
   Shares which may become issuable as a result of stock splits, stock
   dividends, or similar transactions in accordance with the anti-dilution
   provisions of the Plans. In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the
   Securities Act, this Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate
   amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to The Pearson Inc.
   Savings and Investment Plan. Pursuant to Rule 457(h)(2) under the
   Securities Act, no registration fee is required with respect to such
   interests in The Pearson Inc. Savings and Investment Plan.

(3)The average weighted exercise price of outstanding Ordinary Shares pursuant
   to Rule 457(h)(1).

(4)The maximum offering price per share used to calculate the registration fee
   was estimated pursuant to Rule 457, based upon an exchange rate of
   (pound)1.00 = $1.4813, the noon buying rate on August 23, 2000.

(5)Calculated pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Securities Act as follows:
   proposed maximum aggregate offering price multiplied by .000264.

<PAGE>


                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

Item 1.  PLAN INFORMATION.*

Item 2.  REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION.*

       * Information required by Part I to be contained in the Section 10(a)
prospectus is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule
428 under the Securities Act and the Explanatory Note to Part I of this
Registration Statement on Form S-8.



                                       I-1

<PAGE>

                                     PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

       The following documents filed by us with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") are incorporated by reference into this Registration
Statement:

       (a) The description of our Ordinary Shares, par value 25p, and our
American Depository Shares contained in our Registration Statement on Form F-1
(Registration No. 333-43198), including any amendment or report filed for the
purpose of updating such description.

       (b) All other reports filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a)
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of our fiscal year ended December 31,
1999.

       All reports and other documents subsequently filed by us pursuant to
Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters
all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date
of filing of such documents.

       Any statement contained herein or in a document all or a portion of which
is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed
to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

Item 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         Not Applicable.

Item 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         Not Applicable.

Item 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

       Subject to applicable English law, our directors and officers will be
indemnified by us and/or exempted by us from all costs, charges, losses and
liabilities incurred by them in the actual or purported exercise or discharge
of their powers or duties. This indemnity and exemption includes any
liability incurred by them in defending any civil or criminal proceedings
which relate to anything done or alleged to have been done by them as our
officer or employee and in which judgment is given in their favor; or where
proceedings are disposed of without any finding or admission of any material
breach of duty on their part; or in which they are acquitted or in respect of
which relief from liability is granted.


                                      II-1
<PAGE>

       Our directors have the power to purchase and maintain insurance for, or
for the benefit of, any persons that are or were at any time a director or
officer of us or any company we control or that is part of our group (a
"Relevant Company") or that are or were trustees of any pension fund or
employees' share scheme in which employees of any Relevant Company are
interested. Such insurance may include insurance against any liability incurred
by them in respect of any act or omission in the actual or purported exercise or
discharge of their powers or duties in relation to any Relevant Company, or such
pension fund or employees' share scheme.

Item 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

         Not Applicable.

Item 8.  EXHIBITS.

     EXHIBIT      DESCRIPTION
     -------      -----------

       4.1        Memorandum and Articles of Association of Pearson
                  (incorporated by reference from Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 to
                  Pearson's Registration Statement on Form F-1 (No.
                  333-43198))

       4.2        Specimen certificate for ordinary shares of Pearson plc, 25
                  par value (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to
                  Pearson's Registration Statement on Form F-1 (No.
                  333-43198))

       4.3        Form of Amended Deposit Agreement between Pearson plc and
                  The Bank of New York and Form of ADR (incorporated by
                  reference from Exhibit 4.2 to Pearson's Registration Statement
                  on Form F-1 (No. 333-43198))

       4.4        Pearson plc 1988 Executive Share Option Scheme

       4.5        Pearson plc 1992 United States Executive Share Option Scheme

       4.6        The Pearson 1998 Executive Share Option Plan

       4.7        The Pearson Special Share Option Plan

       4.8        The Pearson Reward Plan

       4.9        Pearson plc Annual Bonus Share Matching Plan

       4.10       Pearson plc Employee Stock Purchase Plan

       4.11       The Pearson Inc. Savings and Investment Plan

       4.12       Pearson Inc. Discretionary Stock Option Plan for Authors

       4.13       Pearson plc United States Senior Executive Share Scheme

       5          Opinion of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

                                      II-2
<PAGE>

       23.1       Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers

       23.2       Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

       23.3       Consent of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (included in
                  Exhibit 5)

       24         Powers of Attorney (included on signature page hereof)

Item 9. UNDERTAKINGS.

        (a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

            (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

            (i)  To include any prospectus required by Section
            10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

            (ii) To reflect in the Prospectus any facts or events arising after
            the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most
            recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in
            the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set
            forth in this Registration Statement; and

            (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan
            of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration
            Statement or any material change to such information in this
            Registration Statement;

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement.

            (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

            (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

        (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

                                      II-3
<PAGE>

        (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification
is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-4
<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of London, on the 25th day of August, 2000.


                                   Pearson plc


                                   By: /s/ John Makinson
                                       --------------------------
                                       John Makinson

                                   By: /s/ Stevenson
                                       --------------------------
                                       Lord Stevenson

      Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints
Marjorie Scardino, John Makinson and Peter Gill and each of them, with full
power to act without, the other such person's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in
his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement
and any and all other documents and instruments incidental thereto, and to file
the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority,
granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as
fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their or
his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following individuals in the
capacities and on the date or dates indicated.

Signature                           Title                         Date
---------                           -----                         ----

/s/ Stevenson                     Chairman                  August 25, 2000
--------------
Lord Stevenson


/s/ Marjorie Scardino             Chief Executive Officer   August 25, 2000
---------------------             and Director (principal
Marjorie Scardino                 executive officer)


                                      II-5
<PAGE>





/s/ John Makinson                 Finance Director          August 25, 2000
----------------------            (principal financial
John Makinson                     officer)


/s/ Peter Gill                    Director, Financial       August 25, 2000
----------------------            Operations (principal
Peter Gill                        accounting officer)


/s/ David Bell                    Director                  August 25, 2000
----------------------
David Bell


/s/ Burns                         Director                  August 25, 2000
----------------------
Lord Burns


/s/ Gillian Lewis                 Director                  August 25, 2000
----------------------
Gillian Lewis


/s/ Reuben Mark                   Director                  August 25, 2000
----------------------
Reuben Mark


/s/ Vernon Sankey                 Director                  August 25, 2000
----------------------
Vernon Sankey


/s/ Rana Talwar                   Director                  August 25, 2000
----------------------
Rana Talwar


U.S. AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE

PEARSON INC.


By: /s/ Philip Hoffman
    --------------------------
Name:  Philip Hoffman
Title: President


                                      II-6
<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


      EXHIBIT     DESCRIPTION
      -------     -----------


       4.1        Memorandum and Articles of Association of Pearson
                  (incorporated by reference from Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 to
                  Pearson's Registration Statement on Form F-1 (No.
                  333-43198))

       4.2        Specimen certificate for ordinary shares of Pearson plc, 25
                  par value (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to
                  Pearson's Registration Statement on Form F-1 (No.
                  333-43198))

       4.3        Form of Amended Deposit Agreement between Pearson plc and
                  The Bank of New York and Form of ADR (incorporated by
                  reference from Exhibit 4.2 to Pearson's Registration Statement
                  on Form F-1 (No. 333-43198))

       4.4        Pearson plc 1988 Executive Share Option Scheme

       4.5        Pearson plc 1992 United States Executive Share Option Scheme

       4.6        The Pearson 1998 Executive Share Option Plan

       4.7        The Pearson Special Share Option Plan

       4.8        The Pearson Reward Plan

       4.9        Pearson plc Annual Bonus Share Matching Plan

       4.10       Pearson plc Employee Stock Purchase Plan

       4.11       The Pearson Inc. Savings and Investment Plan

       4.12       Pearson Inc. Discretionary Stock Option Plan for Authors

       4.13       Pearson plc United States Senior Executive Share Scheme

       5          Opinion of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

       23.1       Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers

       23.2       Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

       23.3       Consent of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (included in
                  Exhibit 5)

       24         Powers of Attorney (included on signature page hereof)


                                      II-7
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "s-8.txt", "description": "S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 22026}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "PEARSON PLC", "cik": "0000938323", "assigned-sic": "0000", "irs-number": "000000000", "state-of-incorporation": "X0"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-44590", "film-number": "710492"}, "business-address": {"street1": "3 BURLINGTON GARDENS", "street2": "BANK OF NEW YORK", "city": "LONDON UK W1X 1LE", "state": "X0", "zip": "00000", "phone": "4420744120"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "3 BURLINGTON GARDENS", "city": "LONDON UK W1X 1LE", "state": "X0", "zip": "00000"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 25, 2000
                                                    REGISTRATION NO. 333-_____

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                  -------------
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                  -------------

                                   PEARSON PLC
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

             ENGLAND AND WALES                        NOT REQUIRED
             (State or other jurisdiction of          (I.R.S. Employer
             incorporation or organization)           Identification No.)

                                  -------------

                              3 BURLINGTON GARDENS
                             LONDON, ENGLAND W1X 1LE
                                 44-20-7411-2000
          (Address, including zip code, of Principal Executive Offices)

                                 --------------

                 PEARSON PLC 1988 EXECUTIVE SHARE OPTION SCHEME
          PEARSON PLC 1992 UNITED STATES EXECUTIVE SHARE OPTION SCHEME
                  THE PEARSON 1998 EXECUTIVE SHARE OPTION PLAN
                      THE PEARSON SPECIAL SHARE OPTION PLAN
                             THE PEARSON REWARD PLAN
                  PEARSON PLC ANNUAL BONUS SHARE MATCHING PLAN
                    PEARSON PLC EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                  THE PEARSON INC. SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLAN
            PEARSON INC. DISCRETIONARY STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR AUTHORS
         PEARSON PLC UNITED STATES SENIOR EXECUTIVE SHARE OPTION SCHEME
                            (Full Title of the Plan)
                                   -----------

                                   PEARSON INC.
                            1330 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
                             NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019
                                  (212) 641-2400

                      (Name, address, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)
-----------

                                    COPY TO:

                                CHARLES E. ENGROS
                           MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP
                                 101 PARK AVENUE
                             NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10178
                                 (212) 309-6000
                               FAX: (212) 309-6273

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                    PROPOSED           PROPOSED
                                                                     MAXIMUM           MAXIMUM
           TITLE OF SECURITIES TO              AMOUNT TO BE         OFFERING          AGGREGATE        AMOUNT OF
               BE REGISTERED                   REGISTERED(1)     PRICE PER SHARE       OFFERING      REGISTRATION
                                                                                        PRICE           FEE (5)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company's Ordinary Shares, 25p per share        10,469,282       $24.83 (3)         $ 259,952,272      $ 68,627.40
                                                   880,010       $25.07 (4)         $  20,808,350.70   $  5,493.40
                                                34,250,000(2)    $25.07 (4)         $ 864,915,000      $228,337.56

TOTAL                                           45,599,292                                             $302,458.36

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)American Depositary Shares which may be issued with respect to Ordinary
   Shares will be registered under a separate Registration Statement on Form
   F-6.

(2)The Ordinary Shares of 25p each being registered hereby will be granted by
   Pearson plc ("Pearson") to certain United States employees who are
   participants in The Pearson 1998 Executive Share Option Plan (15,000,000
   Ordinary Shares), The Pearson Special Share Option Plan (4,000,000
   Ordinary Shares), The Pearson Reward Plan (7,000,000 Ordinary Shares),
   Pearson plc Annual Bonus Share Matching Plan (250,000 Ordinary Shares),
   Pearson plc Employee Stock Purchase Plan (5,000,000 Ordinary Shares), The
   Pearson Inc. Savings and Investment Plan (3,000,000 Ordinary Shares) or
   Pearson Inc. Discretionary Stock Option Plan for Authors (250,000 Ordinary
   Shares) (collectively, the "Plans"). In addition to the 34,500,000
   Ordinary Shares indicated above, pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the
   Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), this
   Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate number of Ordinary
   Shares which may become issuable as a result of stock splits, stock
   dividends, or similar transactions in accordance with the anti-dilution
   provisions of the Plans. In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the
   Securities Act, this Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate
   amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to The Pearson Inc.
   Savings and Investment Plan. Pursuant to Rule 457(h)(2) under the
   Securities Act, no registration fee is required with respect to such
   interests in The Pearson Inc. Savings and Investment Plan.

(3)The average weighted exercise price of outstanding Ordinary Shares pursuant
   to Rule 457(h)(1).

(4)The maximum offering price per share used to calculate the registration fee
   was estimated pursuant to Rule 457, based upon an exchange rate of
   (pound)1.00 = $1.4813, the noon buying rate on August 23, 2000.

(5)Calculated pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Securities Act as follows:
   proposed maximum aggregate offering price multiplied by .000264.
PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

Item 1.  PLAN INFORMATION.*

Item 2.  REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION.*

       * Information required by Part I to be contained in the Section 10(a)
prospectus is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule
428 under the Securities Act and the Explanatory Note to Part I of this
Registration Statement on Form S-8.

                                       I-1
PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

       The following documents filed by us with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") are incorporated by reference into this Registration
Statement:

       (a) The description of our Ordinary Shares, par value 25p, and our
American Depository Shares contained in our Registration Statement on Form F-1
(Registration No. 333-43198), including any amendment or report filed for the
purpose of updating such description.

       (b) All other reports filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a)
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of our fiscal year ended December 31,
1999.

       All reports and other documents subsequently filed by us pursuant to
Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters
all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date
of filing of such documents.

       Any statement contained herein or in a document all or a portion of which
is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed
to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

Item 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         Not Applicable.

Item 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         Not Applicable.

Item 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

       Subject to applicable English law, our directors and officers will be
indemnified by us and/or exempted by us from all costs, charges, losses and
liabilities incurred by them in the actual or purported exercise or discharge
of their powers or duties. This indemnity and exemption includes any
liability incurred by them in defending any civil or criminal proceedings
which relate to anything done or alleged to have been done by them as our
officer or employee and in which judgment is given in their favor; or where
proceedings are disposed of without any finding or admission of any material
breach of duty on their part; or in which they are acquitted or in respect of
which relief from liability is granted.

                                      II-1
Our directors have the power to purchase and maintain insurance for, or
for the benefit of, any persons that are or were at any time a director or
officer of us or any company we control or that is part of our group (a
"Relevant Company") or that are or were trustees of any pension fund or
employees' share scheme in which employees of any Relevant Company are
interested. Such insurance may include insurance against any liability incurred
by them in respect of any act or omission in the actual or purported exercise or
discharge of their powers or duties in relation to any Relevant Company, or such
pension fund or employees' share scheme.

Item 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

         Not Applicable.

Item 8.  EXHIBITS.

     EXHIBIT      DESCRIPTION
     -------      -----------

       4.1        Memorandum and Articles of Association of Pearson
                  (incorporated by reference from Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 to
                  Pearson's Registration Statement on Form F-1 (No.
                  333-43198))

       4.2        Specimen certificate for ordinary shares of Pearson plc, 25
                  par value (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to
                  Pearson's Registration Statement on Form F-1 (No.
                  333-43198))

       4.3        Form of Amended Deposit Agreement between Pearson plc and
                  The Bank of New York and Form of ADR (incorporated by
                  reference from Exhibit 4.2 to Pearson's Registration Statement
                  on Form F-1 (No. 333-43198))

       4.4        Pearson plc 1988 Executive Share Option Scheme

       4.5        Pearson plc 1992 United States Executive Share Option Scheme

       4.6        The Pearson 1998 Executive Share Option Plan

       4.7        The Pearson Special Share Option Plan

       4.8        The Pearson Reward Plan

       4.9        Pearson plc Annual Bonus Share Matching Plan

       4.10       Pearson plc Employee Stock Purchase Plan

       4.11       The Pearson Inc. Savings and Investment Plan

       4.12       Pearson Inc. Discretionary Stock Option Plan for Authors

       4.13       Pearson plc United States Senior Executive Share Scheme

       5          Opinion of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

                                      II-2
23.1       Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers

       23.2       Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

       23.3       Consent of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (included in
                  Exhibit 5)

       24         Powers of Attorney (included on signature page hereof)

Item 9. UNDERTAKINGS.

        (a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

            (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

            (i)  To include any prospectus required by Section
            10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

            (ii) To reflect in the Prospectus any facts or events arising after
            the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most
            recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in
            the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set
            forth in this Registration Statement; and

            (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan
            of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration
            Statement or any material change to such information in this
            Registration Statement;

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement.

            (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

            (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

        (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

                                      II-3
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification
is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-4
SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of London, on the 25th day of August, 2000.

                                   Pearson plc

                                   By: /s/ John Makinson
                                       --------------------------
                                       John Makinson

                                   By: /s/ Stevenson
                                       --------------------------
                                       Lord Stevenson

      Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints
Marjorie Scardino, John Makinson and Peter Gill and each of them, with full
power to act without, the other such person's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in
his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement
and any and all other documents and instruments incidental thereto, and to file
the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority,
granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as
fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their or
his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following individuals in the
capacities and on the date or dates indicated.

Signature                           Title                         Date
---------                           -----                         ----

/s/ Stevenson                     Chairman                  August 25, 2000
--------------
Lord Stevenson

/s/ Marjorie Scardino             Chief Executive Officer   August 25, 2000
---------------------             and Director (principal
Marjorie Scardino                 executive officer)

                                      II-5
/s/ John Makinson                 Finance Director          August 25, 2000
----------------------            (principal financial
John Makinson                     officer)

/s/ Peter Gill                    Director, Financial       August 25, 2000
----------------------            Operations (principal
Peter Gill                        accounting officer)

/s/ David Bell                    Director                  August 25, 2000
----------------------
David Bell

/s/ Burns                         Director                  August 25, 2000
----------------------
Lord Burns

/s/ Gillian Lewis                 Director                  August 25, 2000
----------------------
Gillian Lewis

/s/ Reuben Mark                   Director                  August 25, 2000
----------------------
Reuben Mark

/s/ Vernon Sankey                 Director                  August 25, 2000
----------------------
Vernon Sankey

/s/ Rana Talwar                   Director                  August 25, 2000
----------------------
Rana Talwar

U.S. AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE

PEARSON INC.

By: /s/ Philip Hoffman
    --------------------------
Name:  Philip Hoffman
Title: President

                                      II-6
EXHIBIT INDEX

      EXHIBIT     DESCRIPTION
      -------     -----------

       4.1        Memorandum and Articles of Association of Pearson
                  (incorporated by reference from Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 to
                  Pearson's Registration Statement on Form F-1 (No.
                  333-43198))

       4.2        Specimen certificate for ordinary shares of Pearson plc, 25
                  par value (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to
                  Pearson's Registration Statement on Form F-1 (No.
                  333-43198))

       4.3        Form of Amended Deposit Agreement between Pearson plc and
                  The Bank of New York and Form of ADR (incorporated by
                  reference from Exhibit 4.2 to Pearson's Registration Statement
                  on Form F-1 (No. 333-43198))

       4.4        Pearson plc 1988 Executive Share Option Scheme

       4.5        Pearson plc 1992 United States Executive Share Option Scheme

       4.6        The Pearson 1998 Executive Share Option Plan

       4.7        The Pearson Special Share Option Plan

       4.8        The Pearson Reward Plan

       4.9        Pearson plc Annual Bonus Share Matching Plan

       4.10       Pearson plc Employee Stock Purchase Plan

       4.11       The Pearson Inc. Savings and Investment Plan

       4.12       Pearson Inc. Discretionary Stock Option Plan for Authors

       4.13       Pearson plc United States Senior Executive Share Scheme

       5          Opinion of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

       23.1       Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers

       23.2       Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

       23.3       Consent of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (included in
                  Exhibit 5)

       24         Powers of Attorney (included on signature page hereof)

                                      II-7