Gradually the school began to expand and develop under the leadership of Janet and John Heath. During their time they developed the House system, John was a naval man, and Drake (red), Nelson (green) and Raleigh (yellow) were established. Even now, when old pupils bring their children to the school, they want them to go into their Parent's house. The offices of Head Boy, Head Girl and Prefects were also instituted at this time and the roll of Head Boys and Girls is to be found in the school entrance lobby. The school curriculum became much more formalised and the teaching staff expanded to allow the beginnings of subject teaching to develop. This idea expanded steadily until all classes from Form II upward were receiving the benefits of this more academic approach to education. The breadth of the curriculum was also steadily increased to provide a full 11-subject timetable. Sport began to assume a higher profile with the introduction of competition with other schools.

The Heaths also began an ambitious building programme which, over the years, resulted in the removal of the classes from the house to purpose built classrooms in the grounds. The first classrooms occupied the area currently housing rooms 1 to 5. The original lawns were kept and in one corner was located a little summerhouse, known as Apple Cottage. An extension to the house was built which became the Nursery and Music room. Much emphasis was placed upon the school feeling as much as possible like a home. The top playground was purchased at this time and for some time was known by the pupils as the ‘mud patch'. Eventually this was hard surfaced and three extra classrooms were built close to the top fence. The swimming pool was also put in by a co-operative effort from the parents and was opened by King Neptune (Mr. Heath).

School meals were also offered as, with the advent of the car, children from much further afield began to attend the school. These were cooked on the Aga in the house kitchen and required very careful planning to ensure that oven foods did not clash with hot plate food. One of the best-remembered school cooks was Mrs. Shaw. Although not a tall woman she acquired the reputation of Superwoman being able to pick up an industrial food mixer with one hand (it normally required two builders to move it) and to be able to break off tap handles with one quick twist of her wrist. Her steamed jam puddings are still remembered by generations of old pupils who called them volcanos - they were huge, fluffy and the jam ran down the sides and puddled on the serving dish. Meals were taken in the classrooms at two sittings with the Form VI children helping with the work.

The Christmas School Play, an annual event, was started at this time and probably began as a nativity which just grew into a full scale production with every child in the school taking part. The Heaths also expanded and operated a Nursery School that took children from the age of three years for mornings only.

In 1977 the Heaths finally found two people who would take over the school and who would maintain and develop the traditions which they had begun and the school passed on to Mr. & Mrs. R. H. Greenland.