Finance
Pearson's sales growth accelerates on virtual learning and English test demand
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on October 17, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Global Banking and Finance Review
Company
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on October 17, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Pearson's Q3 sales growth hit 4%, driven by virtual learning and English test demand, setting up a strong Q4.
LONDON (Reuters) -British education company Pearson said its underlying sales growth accelerated to 4% in the third quarter, up from 2% in the first half, driven by demand for virtual learning, where enrolments rose 13% for the 2025/26 academic year.
Chief Executive Omar Abbosh said the performance set the company up for a "strong Q4".
As well as strength in virtual learning and assessment, and qualifications, he pointed to a return to growth in English language learning in the quarter.
"Earlier in the year there was some worry about the Pearson Test of English (PTE) due to the various migration policies that you're seeing around the world," he told Reuters on Friday.
"And actually the PTE performed extremely well in the context."
Shares in the company rose 3.6% after it said it expected t to meet market expectations for the year.
Analysts have forecast the group will report underlying sales growth of 4% and adjusted operating profit of about 606 million pounds ($813 million), based on the dollar exchange rate at the end of September.
($1 = 0.7451 pounds)
(Reporting by Paul Sandle; editing by Sarah Young)
Virtual learning refers to educational experiences that take place online, allowing students to learn remotely through digital platforms and resources.
Sales growth is the increase in sales revenue over a specific period, often expressed as a percentage compared to previous periods.
The Pearson Test of English (PTE) is an English language proficiency test designed to assess the speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills of non-native speakers.
Adjusted operating profit is a measure of a company's profitability that excludes certain one-time expenses or income to provide a clearer view of ongoing performance.
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