<PAGE>
Exhibit 23.1
[LETTERHEAD OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS]
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the inclusion in the Registration Statement on Form F-1
of Pearson plc., of our report which is dated 6 March 2000, except for the
information presented in Notes 31 and 34 for which the date is 12 May 2000,
relating to the consolidated financial statements of Pearson plc, which are
included in such Registration Statement. We also consent to the references to
us under the headings "Experts" and "Selected Financial Data" in such
Registration Statement.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers
London, England
7 August 2000
