Following the jubilee of the Friends First Day Schools in Leeds, celebrated in 1897, the movement lost momentum. The Adult Schools lapsed their membership in 1898 and organised their own United Quarterly Meetings. In 1903, following on from enthusiastic meetings at the Friends Adult School in Burley Road, a special meeting took place, addressed by Edwin Gilbert on the question of 'The Adult School Movement in Leeds: shall it go forward?'. The so-called 'forward movement' addressed the lack of recruitment of new members, the failure of the Adult Schools to promote themselves, and the need for more efficient internal organisation. A Leeds and District Adult School Sub Union, on broad undenominational lines, was formed that same year. The first members were Burley Road and Camp Road, followed by Woodhouse Carr and Carlton Hill. By 1909, 22 Adult Schools had affiliated to the Sub Union, 14 of which had separate classes for women. The total membership stood at 2311. The Sub Union was still in existence in 1948.
From the guide to the Records of Leeds and District Adult School Sub Union of the Society of Friends, 1909-1948, (Leeds University Library)
