Un o themâu allweddol y Rhaglen Amddifadedd, ac un sy’n sylfaen i Her Ysgolion Cymru, yw’r ffaith nad yw’n ddigon da defnyddio tlodi fel esgus ar gyfer tangyflawni. Dylid gosod disgwyliadau uchel ar gyfer pob disgybl, waeth beth fo’i gefndir.
A key theme running throughout the Deprivation Programme, and one that underpins Schools Challenge Cymru, is that it is not good enough to use poverty as an excuse for underachievement.  High expectations should be set for all pupils, irrespective of background.