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Disclaimer

The Educational Facilities Standards and Guidelines (EFSG) 2025 form part of the contractual requirements for the design and delivery of school infrastructure projects commissioned by School Infrastructure NSW (SINSW). Adherence to the EFSG is mandatory and constitutes a legal obligation for all engaged parties.

EFSG 2025 sets out the design intent, spatial and functional requirements, and standardised design components necessary to guide the consistent, equitable, and high-quality development of educational facilities across NSW. While comprehensive in scope, the EFSG is not exhaustive. Project teams must apply professional judgment in addressing specific project needs, site conditions, and applicable statutory and regulatory obligations.

While the most current version of the EFSG is generally the authoritative reference, the applicable version for any given project may be determined by the date on which the project's business case was approved. It is the responsibility of project teams to confirm the relevant version with SINSW and seek clarification where uncertainty exists.

The EFSG adopts a ‘live learning’ model, and updates may be issued through future annual releases to reflect evolving priorities, sector feedback, and lessons learned. Components such as the Pattern Book are iterative tools and will continue to be developed over time.

SINSW accepts no liability for any loss, damage, or claim arising from the misapplication, outdated referencing, or misinterpretation of EFSG content. Users must ensure they are working from the correct version and confirm any ambiguities directly with SINSW.

General Understanding

School design standards provide the foundation for creating safe, functional, inclusive, and future-focused learning environments. They ensure consistency, equity, and alignment with educational outcomes across all school infrastructure projects.

The Educational Facilities Standards and Guidelines (EFSG) are available online at efsg.det.nsw.edu.au. The site includes design principles, area guidelines, room data sheets, and planning tools.

The EFSG is developed and maintained by the NSW Department of Education in collaboration with architects, engineers, educators, and policy advisors. It is regularly updated to reflect evolving best practices and educational needs.

While overarching principles apply to all school types, the standards define distinct requirements for different school levels, including space allocations, specialist facilities, and accessibility provisions tailored to student age and educational delivery.

Application in Design

Use the EFSG early in the planning process to define key spatial relationships, area allocations, and learning zone configurations. The standards help structure your design response and support compliance from concept through to design documentation.

The EFSG identifies both mandatory requirements and design principles. While minimum areas and functional requirements must be met, designers are encouraged to innovate within the guiding principles to respond to context, pedagogy, and community needs.

The EFSG includes detailed area guidelines, Room Data Sheets (RDS), and functional diagrams. These specify minimum room sizes, specialist area requirements (e.g., science, food tech), and recommended adjacencies to ensure effective educational delivery.

The EFSG encourages inclusive and culturally responsive design. This includes aligning with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and integrating resources such as Connecting with Country frameworks for Aboriginal community engagement.

The standards are grounded in current educational research and practice. They support collaborative learning, flexibility, wellbeing, and digital integration—aligning physical environments with how students learn today and into the future.

Compliance and Documentation

Compliance is demonstrated through:

  1. Annotated plans
  2. Space planning schedules
  3. Completed EFSG checklists
  4. Design reports referencing relevant clauses

Yes. The EFSG includes downloadable checklists, SoA templates, and RDS libraries. These support self-assessment and structured documentation throughout the design lifecycle.

Proposed variations must be clearly documented and justified against educational, operational, or contextual objectives. All variations are reviewed by the Design Directorate or relevant authority and may require executive approval.

Integration with Other Frameworks

The EFSG is designed to complement the National Construction Code (NCC), DDA, and sustainability frameworks like Green Star and NABERS. These must be met alongside EFSG requirements to ensure holistic compliance.

Yes. Room Data Sheets and component specifications can be integrated into BIM models. This enables efficient coordination, quality assurance, and asset lifecycle planning throughout design and delivery.

The EFSG provides a common language and reference point for engaging with school leaders, teachers, and communities. It helps clarify what is essential, where flexibility exists, and how the design can reflect local identity and aspirations.

Updates and Professional Practice

Updates occur every few years or when major policy shifts happen (e.g., changes in curriculum or accessibility law). Subscribe to your state education department’s alerts, participate in industry forums, or join professional bodies like Learning Environments Australasia. 

Feedback can be submitted during public consultation rounds, pilot projects, or directly via government channels. Engaging in design review processes or research collaborations also helps shape future revisions.

  • Treating all requirements as fixed, without considering their intent
  • Over-allocating space without checking net-to-gross ratios
  • Ignoring the educational brief in favour of a purely spatial compliance approach
  • Misinterpreting acoustic, daylight, or accessibility criteria
  • Failing to document departures or rationale for custom solutions.

Get in touch

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For more information, questions or to make a comment on Educational Facilities Standards (EFSG), please email us on

efsg-support@det.nsw.edu.au

or by clicking on the link above.

Glossary

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Find clear definitions and key terms used in EFSG standards - your essential glossary for understanding educational facility guidelines and technical documentation.
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