Contrary to some ill-informed posts, Exeter Airport is a superb environment to operate from being very GA-friendly nowadays, with reasonable fuel prices and landing fees to residents, plus helpful and accommodating management and ATC.
I agree with the friendly ATC bit, but landing fees for non-residents and opening hours make it difficult to visit. Even the last Exeter landing voucher required a fuel uplift - not needed when flying in from Dunkeswell.
My experience of Exeter is that they would like to be more GA friendly, but have never quite managed it for any number of reasons.
I have a little knowledge of Exeter and they seem to have no consistent view of where to go and what to do. Unless the airport management start to see the need for GA and stop getting in their way, then a club/school will always struggle whether it is on the north side or south side.