Evidence mounts that the rush to transition to digital in the classroom is not delivering the expected results. But it’s not the tech, nor Gen Z, that is the problem.

Education publishing giant Pearson has delivered robust full-year results for 2025, reporting group sales up 4% to £3.6bn and adjusted operating profit up 6% to £614m.

The strong performance was announced alongside a significant leadership change, with Simon Robson, currently CFO of Sky Group, appointed to succeed Sally Johnson.

Segment Performance

Assessment and Qualifications, Pearson’s largest division, grew 4%, while Virtual Learning was the standout performer with 8% sales growth, driven by a 13% increase in academic year enrolments.

Higher Education saw modest 2% growth, with US courseware up 3%. English Language Learning grew 1%, with the Pearson Test of English (PTE) holding steady despite migration policy headwinds.

The rebranded Enterprise Learning and Skills division delivered 6% growth, bolstered by vocational qualifications and enterprise solutions.

AI As A Core Strategy

CEO Omar Abbosh emphasised “significant progress” in embedding AI as a foundational capability. Strategic partnerships with Salesforce, Microsoft, and IBM signal Pearson’s focus on the intersection of education and workforce development. Notably, the company launched Communication Coach, an AI-powered learning solution integrated into Microsoft 365.

Leadership Transition

After nearly 26 years with the company, Group CFO Sally Johnson will depart to join a large privately owned business. Abbosh praised her “outstanding contribution” to strengthening performance and advancing transformation.

Simon Robson will join from Sky on 30th March 2026 and assume the executive director role on 8th May 2026. A chartered certified accountant, Robson brings extensive experience from Sky, where he held senior finance roles since 1997, including CFO of Sky Deutschland.

Outlook and Shareholder Returns

Pearson raised its final dividend by 4.8% to 17.4p, bringing the total 2025 payout to 25.2p. A new £350m share buyback programme commenced in January 2026. For 2026, the company expects adjusted operating profit between £640m–£685m, with mid-single digit underlying sales growth.

The View From The Beach

Pearson is positioned for growth in an AI-transformed educational landscape, but there may be headwinds to come.

Globally there is an increasing push-back against ed-tech as evidence mounts the rush to transition to digital in the classroom is not delivering the expected results. Ironically, it’s not the tech, nor Gen Z, that is the problem. It’s the teaching mindset.

Watch out for a TNPS deep dive into this in the near future.

This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.