The EFSG is evolving to become a user-focused, searchable platform designed to simplify school design, align projects, and support better decisions—now and into the future.
Clearer standards, simpler searches, continual improvement
Image: Melonba High School
The Future of the EFSG
There is an EFSG Reform program of works underway to make the standards easier to use and to streamline the requirements for School Infrastructure (SI) projects. Building on the release of EFSG 2025, SI is progressing with further improvements. This work ensures the EFSG remains the central point for planning, design and technical standards for all NSW schools.
How the EFSG evolves
The EFSG is updated through a formal process to keep standards relevant, evidence-based and fit for purpose. It starts with a need for change, identified through: research, policy change, SI initiatives or feedback from project teams. Technical and educational experts then assess safety, compliance, feasibility, cost and whole-of-life impacts.
Once endorsed by the relevant working group, the change will be taken through the necessary governance, included in the next EFSG release and becomes mandatory. Projects already underway may adopt these changes if directed.
Our working groups contributing to the EFSG
Technical Standards Working Group
Reviews and endorses the design and technical requirements. The group considers:
- education-specific needs and outcomes
- safety and risk
- constructability and maintainability
- whole-of-life cost and performance.
Educational Review Working Group
Ensures the EFSG reflects how schools work day to day. It focuses on:
- general arrangement planning that supports smooth operations and effective teaching and learning
- requirements for learning and support spaces
- the practicality of furniture, fixtures and equipment, and how spaces are laid out.
As part of the EFSG reform program, a number of standalone documents are being consolidated into Parts A-D. Until that work is complete, these documents remain current and should be used alongside EFSG 2025 where applicable to your project.
| Standard Under Review | Description |
|---|---|
| Preschool design brief | Provides requirements for the design of Department of Education pre-schools. The document must be read in conjunction with the EFSG as whole. The Preschool design brief will be incorporated into the EFSG in 2026. |
| ICT Performance Standards | Provides Information and Communications Technology performance standards and requirements for schools. |
| Electronic Security Requirements | Defines the requirements for school electronic security. In future this document will be incorporated within the EFSG. |
| Site Selection | Criteria and requirements for the selection of school sites from EFSG v2.0. This document remains in place and in future will be harmonised with the current EFSG. |
| Urban Schools | Schools on urban sites have significantly different design considerations resulting from their different context and as they usually are designed on highly constrained site areas, they require a different approach to configuration, building footprints and open spaces. |
| Safety in Design | In EFSG v2.0 this was a stand-alone framework. The majority of the content is now located in Parts A-D and will be embedded within the current EFSG. For completeness, the V2.0 document is also included here. |
| Transport Planning | Draft Design Framework developed by the transport team. |
| Sustainability | In EFSG v2.0 this was a stand-alone framework. The majority of the content is now located in Parts A-D and will be embedded within the current EFSG. For completeness, the V2.0 document is also included here. |
| New playground equipment in schools | In EFSG v2.0 this was a stand-alone framework. The majority of the content is now located in Parts A-D and will be embedded within the current EFSG. For completeness, the V2.0 document is also included here. |