That number prefix 0844 477 looks sooo familiar. It's the same as many doctor's surgeries now used having been sold NEG's Surgery Line system. I am assuming that your son's school must have been 'sold' another 'product' by NEG, School Line, and is billed as a way to "defeat the bullies".

Anyway, to cut to the chase, there is very little chance of finding the new proper number for this. I would make a formal complaint to the school's governors explaining that this now costs more than a geographical call and calls from BT Payphones and mobile phones now cost far more than they used to.

See:

http://www.sefton.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=6102&schoolid=2594&type=Secondary%20S...;   and:

www.maghullhigh.co.uk

I have just started a new thread here to discuss this as it's based on well-known NEG's stealth premium rate 0844 numbers.  In this case, it's called School Line.

Please continue any discussions not related to geographical request in the above linked thread.

Thanks.

As expected the old geographical number, 0151 526 2711, no longer works and redirects you to the 0844 number.

Thanks for your time and effort,bbb_uK.

You could always try ringing it 

Prompted by this topic I decided to send Maghull High School an email requesting information about its use of an 0844 telephone number.  Today I received the following reply:

“Dear ...

Freedom of Information Act 2000

I am writing in response to your e.mail dated 17hDecember in which you requested information regarding the installation of a new telephone system at the school.

The school decided to update the telephone system for operational (the previous system did not meet the needs of a school), rather than financial reasons and therefore did not make a decision to use 0844 numbers. The new telephone number arose as a result of the change in system and was allocated by the telephone company.

The system was installed in August 2006 and we have just been made aware that there is a question about the level of call cost.

The school did not make the decision to install the new system based upon any income that may be received from call users, although the telephone company has confirmed that a reduction in the overall cost of the system is allocated as a result of a minor call charge being applied.

I can inform you that the school website maghullhigh.com now incorporates [bold by me] two direct dial numbers, one for main school and one for the sixth form.

Yours sincerely
M R Anderson
Headteacher    END QUOTE

The reply did not disclose fully the information I requested and is crafted in typicaly enigmatic way.