In 1900 he resigned and set up his own family school, Leslie House, (later renamed Clemes College) in Pirie Street and then at Boa Vista, Argyle Street, where Morris Friends' Primary Years (Junior School) and Clemes (Years 11–12) are now located.

In this period the distinctive appearance of the School changed - with the addition of the front portico, the Hodgkin Hall, the original science and art block and the boys' boarding wing.

No further building programmes were undertaken until 1955 when the second period of expansion began with the opening of the Preparatory School in 1955 followed by the Sports Ground in 1958.

However Quaker activities, such as meeting for worship (Gathering), form an integral part of school life for students, and take up one hour per week.

Following the Tasman Bridge disaster of 1975 many students of the school who lived on the eastern shore of the Derwent River became isolated, and were unable to attend.

Appeals were made to the school from concerned parents, and eventually, it was decided to build a temporary campus within the City of Clarence.

The Sherwood campus consisted of two main inter-linked buildings, a playground, a crude gravel oval and a large area of undeveloped bushland.

All students in the Senior School are members of tutor groups, each of which consists of approximately four people from each grade.