North American Education is Pearson’s largest business, with 2012 sales of £2.7bn and operating profit of £536m.
In 2012, our strength in digital and services businesses and tight cost control enabled us to perform ahead of our more traditional print publishing markets.
Registrations
Our businesses in emerging markets continued to perform strongly, supported by good enrolment trends and sustained investment.
In China, student enrolments at Wall Street English increased 15% to almost 61,000, boosted by good underlying demand and the launch of ten new centres taking the total to 66. Our students rapidly acquire high-level English skills with average grade levels achieved rising by 8% during 2012.
Student enrolments in China
Our Professional Education business is focused on publishing, training, testing and certification for professionals.
The weakness in our UK training business, Pearson in Practice, had a significant negative impact on our 2012 performance and resulted in our decision to exit the business. Other parts of the Professional division performed well.