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)
