Sorcha, if StarOffice is truely compatible, the school will be none the wiser. I would be inclined to give it a try. All that matters is that PowerPoint can read the files produced by StarOffice and that StarOffice is capable of producing the effects that the school might ask Kate to produce.

Unfortunately PowerPoint is the industry standard and schools do insit on its use. In my course, we are no longer asked to give a presentation but to give a PowerPoint presentation and the ones we have had so far have had to be on screen presentations so using a WordProcessor to produce slides is out of the question.

I am amazed and disgusted that Kate's school are apparently forcing the purchase of the product though. If they wish to insist on a particular program, they should provide the facilities.

Jon