England national curriculum
Year 6 spelling words: what to know and practise
In short: There is no separate statutory Year 6 word list in England. Year 6 children continue the 100-entry list shared with Year 5, learn upper Key Stage 2 spelling patterns and practise the words being taught by school. Released SATs papers are a useful final format check, not the whole curriculum.
Free built-in practice. No account needed. Last reviewed 25 August 2026.
Start with the purpose
Which Year 6 spelling list should we use?
These sources overlap, but they are not interchangeable. Using each one for its proper job keeps practice focused and prevents a child facing hundreds of unprioritised words.
This week’s school words
Best for: Current classroom teaching and Friday homework
Start here when the teacher has sent a list. Practise the exact words and the pattern or word family being taught with them.
The shared Years 5 and 6 list
Best for: Finding gaps in the 100 statutory entries
Sample a small mixed group, keep only the words that are not secure and return to those after a gap. Do not treat all 100 as one weekly list.
Curriculum rules and patterns
Best for: Learning how unfamiliar words are built
Study endings, silent letters, homophones, roots, prefixes and suffixes alongside examples chosen by school.
Released SATs spelling papers
Best for: Understanding the 20-word test format
Use these for occasional test-shaped practice. They sample the wider curriculum and are not a replacement for teaching its patterns.
More than the shared list
The spelling knowledge Year 6 keeps building
Upper Key Stage 2 combines word-specific knowledge with rules, meaningful word parts and word history. The examples below are curriculum pattern examples, not an extra statutory list to memorise all at once.
Endings that sound alike
-cious / -tious, -cial / -tial, -ant / -ent
Compare related words and notice which ending belongs to each family rather than relying on the sound alone.
Words ending -able and -ible
adorable, considerable, possible, visible
Look for a recognisable root, then learn the common words where that clue is less reliable.
Adding suffixes
referring, preferred, reference, preference
Check whether the final consonant doubles and whether the stress changes between related words.
Silent and unstressed letters
doubt, solemn, secretary, vegetable
Say the word naturally, reveal the written form and mark the letters that are difficult to hear.
The letter group ough
bought, rough, through, thorough
Group examples by pronunciation and meaning because the same letters represent several sounds.
Homophones and meaning
advice / advise, practice / practise
Put each word into a sentence. Meaning and grammatical role decide which spelling is needed.
A manageable catch-up route
A six-week Year 6 spelling reset
This is a home-practice sequence, not a promise to teach the full curriculum in six weeks. Keep following school’s programme and use each week to make a small number of real gaps more secure.
- Week 1
Find the real gaps
Use the latest school list and a small sample from the shared statutory words. Make one short retry group from genuine errors.
- Week 2
Reconnect sounds and letters
For each retry word, say it clearly, segment what can be heard and mark only the unusual or unstressed part.
- Week 3
Group words by structure
Sort the retry words by a useful ending, root, prefix, suffix or word family. Add examples only when the link helps.
- Week 4
Use meaning and sentences
Practise homophones and easily confused words inside short sentences so the intended meaning selects the spelling.
- Week 5
Re-test after a gap
Mix the words and ask for covered recall on another day. Remove secure spellings and keep the remaining group small.
- Week 6
Try one released paper
Use a 20-word SATs paper for format familiarity, then turn any errors back into focused pattern and word practice.
Curriculum practice versus paper practice
Save released papers for a format check
The KS2 spelling paper contains 20 words read aloud inside sentences. A released paper shows how that feels and reveals gaps, but learning the wider spelling patterns is what helps when the test uses an unfamiliar word.
Official basis
The list and patterns come from the curriculum
The Department for Education’s English Appendix 1 contains the shared Years 5 and 6 word list and the upper Key Stage 2 spelling content. The programmes of study explain that accurate spelling draws on phonics, morphology (word structure) and orthography (spelling structure).
Parent questions
Year 6 spelling words FAQ
Is there an official Year 6 spelling word list?
There is no separate statutory Year 6 word list in England. The national curriculum publishes one 100-entry word list shared across Years 5 and 6, and schools decide how to organise it alongside the upper Key Stage 2 spelling content.
How many statutory spelling words should a Year 6 child know?
The shared Years 5 and 6 statutory list contains 100 entries. Some entries include related forms. It is only part of the spelling curriculum, which also covers patterns, word structure, homophones and dictionary use.
Are the 100 statutory words the Year 6 SATs spelling list?
No. There is not a published list of 20 future test words to memorise. The spelling paper samples knowledge from the national curriculum. The shared statutory list is useful, but children also need the wider rules and patterns.
Should we practise the school list or the statutory list first?
Use the current school list first because it should match what is being taught. Use the shared statutory list to find and revisit gaps, not to replace the school’s sequence with a second competing programme.
How is Year 6 spelling practice different from SATs practice?
Everyday Year 6 spelling practice builds word knowledge and recall. SATs practice adds familiarity with a 20-word paper read aloud in sentences. Spellito keeps these as separate practice choices.
Can a parent add the exact Year 6 homework words?
Yes. Family Pass lets a parent add up to 30 weekly school words, review the suggested sentences and save the list to the correct child profile before practice begins.
Does free Year 6 spelling practice need an account?
No. Built-in Year 6 and released-paper practice can start without an account. A parent account is needed for child profiles, 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
- School lists, SATs papers and cross-device sync
12 months. No automatic renewal.