Here is their response (received in snail mail format):-

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The school does not have the details of a geographical number which you maintain is attached to the 0844 number.  I would suggest that you contact NEG direct for this information.  The school does have a number of direct dial numbers which commence 0151 and this information has been entered onto the school website.

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The telephone number was notified to the school as part of the update of the whole telephone system.  The school was not made aware of any change to the cost of calls.

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The telephone company have advised me that the cost of a one minute call at standard rate is the same as BT.  Calls lasting more than one minute are charged at .82p more for each subsequent minute.  They have also informed me that part of the income derived is set against is set against the cost of the installation.

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The school pays call charges for telephone calls made.  The cost varies depending upon whether they are made to mobile phones or through the direct dial system.

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The benefits gained by the school by choosing to change telephone operator is the ability to be able to purchase an up to date system which aids communication at an affordable cost.

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The school is not are of the CoI and Ofcom's guidelines about the use of such numbers.

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I would refer you to the answer given to question 1.  I will also be identifying direct dial numbers starting with 0151 in the next newsletter to parents.

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It is near impossible to take all permutation of call pricing into account, but I suggest that the following would be the most valid comparison for a typical call:

daytime call from BT landline made by somebody on BT Together Option 1

to 0844 477 3438 - 5p/min (at all times)
to an 0151 xxx number: 3p connection charge + 3p/min

Since the connection charge does not apply to NTS calls, a 1 minute call to 0844 is in fact cheaper than to a geographic number. However, from 2 mintues onwards there is a widening gap making the NTS call more and more expensive.

I'm going to do a basic comparison between those on BT Option 1 (most consumers are probably on this tariff anyhow) and that of 0844 number.  I'm also going to explain, in hopefully plain english, that NEG are only a CP and not an OCP so therefore have no control over how much a call to 0844 or geographical calls cost.  This is upto OCPs like BT, TalkTalk, NTL/Telewest, etc.

For the sake of avoiding confusion, I'm not going to mention the connection, call setup charge or whatever it's called as this is not as important especially as both call types do attract the 'setup' fee anyhow.

Hi all,I am having computer problems at the moment and therefore cannot always log in.
Could I take this opportunity to thank bbb_uk,lompos and Dave for all of your efforts concerning Maghull High School.I did not realize it was so involved and in-depth.
Thanks again.

Just to let you know, this number will get you through, but it is not an exact match of the number that is inside 0844 477 3438.  This is attached to a number which if you ring it out of hours, an announcement states "Maghulll High School is now closed..." and gives the opening times of switchboard.  527 3955 is the receptionists phone.