Typically in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s students would leave to work at British Aerospace, GEC Marconi, Ferranti or one of the other large engineering firms based in or around Stevenage.

It had workshops for metalworking, carpentry, and cookery and science labs, all to encourage both boys and girls in the trade of engineering.

Form groups were named after famous Roman roads.

They were Akeman, Ermine, Fosse, Icknield, Stane, Watling and Dane, which was added in 2002.

In 2007 Hertfordshire County Council issued statutory notice for the closure of The Heathcote School in August 2012.