v3.25.4
Revenue From Contracts With Customers - Summary of analysis of group's revenue streams (Detail) - GBP (£)
£ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Dec. 31, 2024
Dec. 31, 2023
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue £ 3,577 £ 3,552 £ 3,674
Services [member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 2,073 2,025 2,123
Software [Member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 972 924 907
Print [Member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 532 603 644
Assessment & Qualifications [member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 1,604 1,591 1,559
Assessment & Qualifications [member] | Services [member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 1,174 1,150 1,120
Assessment & Qualifications [member] | Software [Member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 229 209 202
Assessment & Qualifications [member] | Print [Member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 201 232 237
Virtual Learning [Member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 511 489 616
Virtual Learning [Member] | Services [member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 511 489 616
Virtual Learning [Member] | Software [Member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 0 0 0
Virtual Learning [Member] | Print [Member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 0 0 0
English Language Learning [member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 405 420 415
English Language Learning [member] | Services [member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 186 193 194
English Language Learning [member] | Software [Member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 47 49 45
English Language Learning [member] | Print [Member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 172 178 176
Enterprise Learning & Skills [member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 282 271 269
Enterprise Learning & Skills [member] | Services [member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 202 193 187
Enterprise Learning & Skills [member] | Software [Member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 69 61 65
Enterprise Learning & Skills [member] | Print [Member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 11 17 17
Higher Education [Member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 775 781 806
Higher Education [Member] | Services [member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 0 0 6
Higher Education [Member] | Software [Member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 627 605 595
Higher Education [Member] | Print [Member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 148 176 205
Strategic Review [Member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 0 0 9
Strategic Review [Member] | Services [member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 0 0 0
Strategic Review [Member] | Software [Member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue 0 0 0
Strategic Review [Member] | Print [Member]      
Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items]      
Revenue £ 0 £ 0 £ 9