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

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

                                    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 2004

                                   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

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

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


                  This Report includes the following documents:

1. A press release from Pearson plc announcing Director Shareholding




21 December 2004

The Manager
Company Announcements Office
Primary Markets Division
The London Stock Exchange Tower
Old Broad Street
London EC2N 1HP

Dear Sirs

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

The company today made a grant of restricted shares to executive directors under
its existing Long-Term Incentive Plan. This represents the company's annual
grant of long-term incentives to executive directors for 2004.

The earliest normal vesting date on which shares may be released is 21 December
2007. Subject to meeting certain performance conditions in full, and the
retention of shares that vest on 21 December 2007 for a further two years, the
maximum number of shares that the following executive directors may receive is :
Marjorie Scardino (416,130); David Bell (165,063); Rona Fairhead (165,063);
Peter Jovanovich (165,063); and John Makinson (165,063).

One third of the award will be based on Pearson's total shareholder return
performance relative to the constituents of the FTSE World Media Index over the
three-year period 2004 to 2007. Another third of the award will be based on
Pearson's return on invested capital in 2006. The final third of the award will
be based on Pearson's growth in sales and in earnings per share over the period
2003 to 2006. The conditions and vesting arrangements will be set out in more
detail in the report on directors' remuneration for 2004.

Yours faithfully
PEARSON plc

Stephen Jones
Deputy 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: 21 December 2004 
  
                                                 By:   /s/ STEPHEN JONES
                                                 -----------------------
                                                         Stephen Jones
                                                         Deputy Secretary