Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales increased by 2% on an underlying basis, in line with guidance set in February [31] - Adjusted operating profit also rose by 2% to £242 million, while adjusted earnings per share decreased to 24.5p due to FX headwinds [31] - Free cash flow improved significantly, up £129 million to £156 million, aided by good working capital management [37] - Net debt decreased by £200 million to £1 billion, driven by free cash flow [37] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Assessments and Qualifications sales grew by 2%, with strong growth in Clinical Assessments and UK International Qualifications, offset by declines in Pearson VUE and U.S. Student Assessment [32] - Virtual School sales declined by 1%, but enrollments increased by 5% in the spring semester [34] - Higher Education sales grew by 4%, with a notable 213% increase in digital subscriptions [34] - English Language Learning declined by 3%, while Pearson Test of English remained flat [35] - Enterprise Learning and Skills grew by 4%, supported by strong performance in Vocational Qualifications [35] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The medium-term outlook for PTE and ELL remains strong, supported by demographics and operational track record [10] - Federal funding accounts for a small proportion of total funding for K-12 and Higher Ed, with minimal impact from international mobility [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company’s strategy remains unchanged, focusing on medium-term growth engines and innovation in products and services [6] - Emphasis on AI and skill development to address the evolving workforce demands [11] - The acquisition of eDynamic Learning is expected to enhance the company’s early career strategy and support medium-term guidance [42] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company’s trajectory, citing strategic clarity and execution focus [44] - The company is well-positioned to take advantage of emerging opportunities despite market dynamics [7] - Management expects full-year financial performance to align with earlier expectations, with growth weighted towards the second half of the year [38] Other Important Information - The company is transforming revenue operations and modernizing marketing approaches to improve efficiency [19] - AI-driven simplification is progressing, with significant improvements in customer interactions and content development [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: Performance of new and renewed contracts - Management confirmed that contracts like ServiceNow and Salesforce are performing in line with expectations, with growth anticipated in 2026 [48][51] Question: Opportunities from Gen AI products - Management highlighted the potential of AI to enhance learning outcomes and drive cost efficiencies across various divisions [54][55] Question: Q3 and Q4 revenue growth expectations - Management provided insights on the expected growth drivers, including new contracts and enrollment increases in virtual schools [63][66] Question: Details on Pearson VUE contract pause - Management clarified that the pause was specific to an individual situation and not indicative of broader trends [76] Question: Expectations for English Language Learning growth - Management expressed confidence in institutional growth in the second half, particularly in Latin America [79] Question: Higher Education enrollment expectations - Management indicated that flattish enrollments are still the base case for planning, with growth expected from pricing and new product rollouts [84][88]