England national curriculum
Year 5 and 6 spelling list: all 100 statutory words
In short: There is no separate statutory Year 5 list. England's national curriculum gives schools one shared 100-word spelling list for Years 5 and 6, alongside spelling patterns that children learn across upper Key Stage 2. The complete official list is below, with a free printable observation checklist for all 100 entries.
Free built-in practice. No account needed. Updated 25 October 2026.
The shared Years 5 and 6 list
- Official entries
- 100
- Shared by
- Y5 + Y6
- Separate Y5 list
- No
Schools choose when to teach each word across the two years. Children also learn the spelling rules and word relationships behind them.
Full official word list and free printable checklist
Free printable Years 5 and 6 spelling checklist
These are the entries printed in the Department for Education's English spelling appendix. The list is statutory for Years 5 and 6 in maintained schools in England.
Use your browser or device's Print command to print this checklist or save it as a PDF. No name, account or payment is needed. Scroll within the table to see every word; on a phone, scroll sideways to see every column.
Record a starting spelling check, a review after a gap and evidence from independent writing. Add dates and short notes on paper as useful. This checklist records observations rather than a diagnostic judgement.
Source: Department for Education, English Appendix 1: Spelling. Spellito: spellito.com/year-5-spelling-words.
| Statutory entry | Starting spelling check | Review after a gap | Independent writing |
|---|---|---|---|
| accommodate | |||
| accompany | |||
| according | |||
| achieve | |||
| aggressive | |||
| amateur | |||
| ancient | |||
| apparent | |||
| appreciate | |||
| attached | |||
| available | |||
| average | |||
| awkward | |||
| bargain | |||
| bruise | |||
| category | |||
| cemetery | |||
| committee | |||
| communicate | |||
| community | |||
| competition | |||
| conscience | |||
| conscious | |||
| controversy | |||
| convenience | |||
| correspond | |||
| criticise | |||
| curiosity | |||
| definite | |||
| desperate | |||
| determined | |||
| develop | |||
| dictionary | |||
| disastrous | |||
| embarrass | |||
| environment | |||
| equip | |||
| especially | |||
| exaggerate | |||
| excellent | |||
| existence | |||
| explanation | |||
| familiar | |||
| foreign | |||
| forty | |||
| frequently | |||
| government | |||
| guarantee | |||
| harass | |||
| hindrance | |||
| identity | |||
| immediate(ly) | |||
| individual | |||
| interfere | |||
| interrupt | |||
| language | |||
| leisure | |||
| lightning | |||
| marvellous | |||
| mischievous | |||
| muscle | |||
| necessary | |||
| neighbour | |||
| nuisance | |||
| occupy | |||
| occur | |||
| opportunity | |||
| parliament | |||
| persuade | |||
| physical | |||
| prejudice | |||
| privilege | |||
| profession | |||
| programme | |||
| pronunciation | |||
| queue | |||
| recognise | |||
| recommend | |||
| relevant | |||
| restaurant | |||
| rhyme | |||
| rhythm | |||
| sacrifice | |||
| secretary | |||
| shoulder | |||
| signature | |||
| sincere(ly) | |||
| soldier | |||
| stomach | |||
| sufficient | |||
| suggest | |||
| symbol | |||
| system | |||
| temperature | |||
| thorough | |||
| twelfth | |||
| variety | |||
| vegetable | |||
| vehicle | |||
| yacht |
More than a word list
The patterns Year 5 children learn
The 100-word list is only one part of upper Key Stage 2 spelling. The national curriculum also asks children to understand patterns, word parts and relationships between words.
Connect the spelling with its pattern and meaning
Look at roots, prefixes and suffixes together. A shared word part can help explain several related spellings.
-cious and -tious
vicious, precious, ambitious, cautious
Listen for the ending, then connect it to related words where possible.
-cial and -tial
official, special, partial, essential
The sound is similar, so children need to notice the word family.
-able and -ible
adorable, considerable, possible, visible
Look for a complete root word and learn the common exceptions.
-ant, -ance, -ent and -ence
observant, tolerance, innocent, confidence
Use related verbs and nouns to make the ending easier to remember.
ough
ought, bought, rough, through, thorough
The same letter group can make several sounds, so context matters.
Silent letters
doubt, island, lamb, knight, solemn
Say the word, reveal the spelling and mark the letter that cannot be heard.
Prefixes, suffixes and hyphens
co-operate, re-enter, over-react, dishonest
Break longer words into meaningful parts before spelling the whole word.
Homophones and confused words
advice and advise, device and devise
Use a sentence to connect each spelling with its meaning.
A short practice routine
Help the spelling stick
Short, focused practice works best when children retrieve the spelling, receive clear feedback and return to the words they found difficult.
1. Hear the word in a sentence
Meaning helps a child choose the right spelling, especially for homophones.
2. Spell it from memory
Cover the answer and retrieve it instead of copying it from the page.
3. Check the exact difference
Compare the attempt with the answer and notice the letters that changed.
4. Return to tricky words
Practise missed words again later rather than repeating the whole list.
Official curriculum source
The word list and pattern guidance come from the Department for Education's statutory English Appendix 1: Spelling.
Read English Appendix 1Teaching and practice
The Ofsted English research review describes explicit spelling teaching, word relationships, focused tasks, feedback and deliberate practice.
Read the English research reviewSources rechecked 25 August 2026.
Questions from parents
Years 5 and 6 spelling questions
Is there a separate statutory Year 5 spelling list?
No. England's national curriculum publishes one statutory word list for Years 5 and 6. Schools decide how to sequence those words across upper Key Stage 2.
How many statutory spelling words are there for Years 5 and 6?
The official Years 5 and 6 spelling list contains 100 entries. Some entries group related forms, including equip with equipped and equipment, immediate with immediately and sincere with sincerely.
Can I print a free Years 5 and 6 spelling checklist?
Yes. Use your browser or device's Print command for the free checklist on this page. It includes all 100 statutory entries, with space for a starting spelling check, a review after a gap and evidence from independent writing. No name, account or payment is needed. It records observations rather than a diagnostic judgement.
Must children know every word by the end of Year 5?
There is no separate Year 5 deadline for the shared list. Schools organise teaching across Years 5 and 6, alongside the spelling patterns in the national curriculum.
Is the 100-word list the whole Year 5 spelling curriculum?
No. Children also study spelling patterns, roots, prefixes, suffixes, silent letters, homophones and relationships between words.
Is Year 5 spelling practice the same as Year 6 SATs practice?
No. Year 5 builds the knowledge and habits used throughout upper Key Stage 2. The formal spelling paper is taken in Year 6 as part of the English grammar, punctuation and spelling tests.
Can I add this week's spelling words from school?
Yes. Family Pass lets a parent add the exact weekly list to a child profile, check the practice sentences and hand the prepared list over for School Words practice.
Does free Year 5 practice require an account?
No. Built-in Year 5 spelling practice starts without a name, account or payment. Family Pass is the optional paid offer for family extras, including saved progress and custom weekly school lists.
Clear annual pricing
Start free. Pay only when the family extras help.
A child can practise ten built-in words without entering their name, making an account or paying. Family Pass is the optional complete home product.
Basic practice
FREE
No child name or account needed
- Ten-word curriculum practice
- Hear each word in a sentence
- Clear correction and another try
Complete home tools
£9
per family per year
- Up to five child profiles
- Buddies, hints and private progress
- Parent-entered home lists, SATs papers and cross-device sync
- Paper spelling tests and family duels
12 months. No automatic renewal.
