Henry Farror and his brother gave 2 acres (8,100 m2) of land in Skircoat Green and personally obtained the school charter from Elizabeth I of England at his own expense.

The original governors selected from among the most respectable of the parishioners were responsible for the appointment of the head master and usher the former of whom must have been a student for a period of five years at one of the Universities.

The school house with 6 acres (24,000 m2) of land contiguous to it was given by Gilbert Earl of Shrewsbury, Edward Savile Esq and Sir George Savile Knt in 1598 and several benefactions have since been added to the original endowment among which is one by the Rev Thomas Milner who by will in 1722 assigned to the Master and Fellows of Magdalene College, Cambridge, a reversionary grant of £1000 for founding three scholarships for the benefit of the schools at Haversham, Leeds and Halifax and in 1736 his sister added £200 for the same purpose.

The seal of Heath Grammar School shows a book with the Latin words: "Qui mihi discipulus puer es cupis atque" which translates to "You who are my pupil and wish to be taught".

In 1887, after a gift of £50,000 from Thomas Porter, a Manchester yarn merchant, the orphanage was extended to include schooling.

A Royal Charter of 31 January 1887, named the institution The Crossley and Porter Orphan Home and School.

Throughout this period, the staff head count was also reduced to reflect the smaller number of pupils.

In 2015, headteacher Wendy Moffat announced plans for a new sixth form block to replace the existing ageing facilities had been approved and construction was to begin immediately.

Sports teams are those for athletics, cross country, hockey, cricket, netball, football and rugby.

Houses and forms also compete to raise money for charities such as Comic Relief, Jeans for Genes and Children in Need.